Patent Publication Number: US-11383121-B1

Title: Pulley weight exercise method and system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
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     THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
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     INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM 
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     STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     (1) Field of the Invention 
     The disclosure relates to pulley utilizing exercising device and more particularly pertains to a new pulley utilizing exercising device for allowing multi-use of weight from an adjustable dumbbell. 
     (2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98 
     The prior art relates to pulley utilizing exercising devices which utilize weight plates that, while movable along a vertical track, are not removable from a pulley exercising device and therefore are relegated to a single usage with a cable system. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising the placement of a plurality of weights from an adjustable dumbbell on a base. A handle of the weights is removed before or after placement of the plurality of weights on the base. The weights each have a centrally positioned opening vertically extending therethrough and defining a receiving space. The receiving space of each weight is vertically aligned with the receiving space of each of the other weights. The handle is removably extended from the receiving space. The handle has a grip that is positioned below an uppermost one of the plurality of weights and above a lowermost one of the plurality of weights when the handle is positioned in the receiving space. A user determines a quantity of the weights to be used during an exercise to define a selected number. The selected number of the weights is engaged to a carriage after the handle has been removed from the plurality of weights. The selected number defines secured weights. The carriage is attached to a first end of a cable positioned on a pulley suspended from an upper end of a vertical support. The vertical support is attached to and extends upwardly from the base. Pulling a second end of the cable pulls the carriage and the secured weights upwardly toward the upper end. To perform an exercise, a handgrip is attached to the second end of the cable. 
     In another embodiment of the disclosure, the system includes an adjustable dumbbell assembly with a plurality of weights that is vertically stacked on top of each other. The weights each have a centrally positioned opening vertically extending therethrough and defining a receiving space. A handle is removably extendable into the receiving space. The handle has a grip that is positioned below an uppermost one of the plurality of weights and above a lowermost one of the plurality of weights when the handle is positioned in the receiving space. A coupler releasably engages a selected one of the weights to the handle and defines a coupled weight. The coupled weight and each of the weights positioned above the coupled weight are releasably secured to the handle. Each of the weights positioned below the coupled weight are disengaged from the handle. A pulley assembly for engaging the plurality of weights includes a base that has an upper surface. The plurality of weights is positionable on the upper surface and the plurality of weights is freely removable from the pulley assembly. A vertical support is attached to and extending upwardly from the base. A pulley is attached to the vertical support adjacent to an upper end of the vertical support. A cable positioned on the pulley has a first end and a second end. A carriage is attached to the first end of the cable and is releasably couplable to a selectable number of the weights when the handle is disengaged from the weights. The weights are releasably secured to the carriage and define secured weights. The secured weights are only restrained in movement by the carriage as the carriage moves upwardly from the base to a maximum lift location positioned adjacent to the upper end of the vertical support. A handgrip is attachable to the second end of the cable. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
       The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a front isometric view of a pulley weight exercise method and system according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a front isometric view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a front isometric view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a front isometric view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosure taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment taken along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 4  of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosure taken along line of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 9  is a front isometric view of a dumbbell assembly of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 10  is a front isometric view of a plurality of weights of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 11  is a front isometric view of a handle of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 12  is a front isometric view of the weights of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 13  is a front isometric view of the dumbbell assembly of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 13  thereof, a new pulley utilizing exercising device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 13 , the pulley weight exercise method and system  10  generally comprises a system  10  to be used with an adjustable dumbbell assembly  12  including a plurality of weights  14  wherein the weights  14  are vertically stacked on top of each other. Each of the weights  14  has a pair of outer edges  16  disposed oppositely from each other and defines a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge of the weights  14  in relation to additional elements of the adjustable dumbbell assembly  12 . The weights  14  each have a centrally positioned opening vertically extending therethrough and that defines a receiving space  18 . The receiving space  18  of each weight  14  is vertically aligned with the receiving space  12  of each of the other weights  14 . Each of the weights  14  has a center of mass, wherein the center of mass of each weight  14  is positioned above the center of mass of a next adjacent weight  14  positioned therebelow such that center of masses of all the weights  14  are vertically spaced from each other. A handle  20  is removably extendable into the receiving space and the handle  20  includes grip  22 . The grip  22  is positioned below an uppermost one of the plurality of weights  14  and above a lowermost one of the plurality of weights  14  when the handle  20  is positioned in the receiving space  12 . A coupler  24  releasably engages a selected one of the weights  14  to the handle  20  and the weight  14  to which it is engaged defines a coupled weight  26 . The coupled weight and each of the weights  14  positioned above the coupled weight  26  is releasably secured to the handle  20 , and each of the weights  14  positioned below the coupled weight  26  are disengaged from the handle  20  such that only those weights  14  including and positioned above the coupled weight  26  are utilized during a weight lift exercise. 
     The above types of dumbbells using adjustable weights are found in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/173,331, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/209,746, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/512,752 each incorporated herein by reference. These types of dumbbells use weights  14  wherein the weights  14  are stacked upon each other in such a manner as to allow a user to determine, from the top weight to a bottom weight, the number of weights  14  required for a dumbbell utilizing exercise. Because the weights  14  of these types of dumbbells are stacked on top of each other, the system  10  may utilize multiple ones of the dumbbell assemblies  12  to selectively increase the effective maximum weight that is available while using the system  10 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , for example, the weights  14  from a pair of dumbbell assemblies  12  are being utilized. 
     The system  10  additionally includes a pulley assembly  30  for engaging the plurality of weights  14  to allow for cable-type exercises utilizing the dumbbell assembly  12  weights  14  instead of conventional weight plates. The pulley assembly  30  includes a base  32  that has an upper surface  34 . The plurality of weights  14  is positionable on the upper surface  34  are freely removable from the pulley assembly  30 . The term “freely removable” is intended to mean that the pulley assembly  30  need not be fully or partially deconstructed to remove the weights  14  from the pulley assembly  30  so that the weights  14  can be added to, or removed from, the pulley assembly  30  by simply lifting the weighs  14  off of the base  32 . The plurality of weights  14 , when positioned on the base  32 , will have the handle  20  removed from the plurality of weights  14 . The handle  20  may be removed either before or after the weights  14  are placed on base  32 , though typically the handle  20  will be used to move the weights  14  onto or off of the base  32 . 
     The pulley assembly  30  further includes a vertical support  36  that is attached to and extends upwardly from the base  32 . A pulley  38  is attached to the vertical support  36  adjacent to an upper end  40  of the vertical support  36 . A cable  42  is provided which has a first end  44  and a second end  46 , and the cable  42  is positioned on the pulley  38  such that the first end  44  is pulled upwardly when the second end  46  is pulled downwardly. The first  44  and/or second  46  ends may comprise conventional hooks, such as carabiner type hooks, used in weightlifting systems to facilitate efficient changing of various gripping members suited for different exercises. A carriage  48  is attached to the first end  44  of the cable  42  and is releasably couplable to a selectable number of the weights  14 . The weights  14  are releasably secured to the carriage  48  to define secured weights  50 . Generally, only the carriage  48  of the pulley assembly  30  restrains movement of the secured weights  50  as the carriage  48  moves upwardly from the base  32  to a maximum lift location positioned adjacent to the upper end  40  of the vertical support  36 . That is, the weights  14  are otherwise not coupled to or encumbered by any other portion of the pulley system  30  whereas conventional pulley weight stacks utilize weights that are slidably coupled directly to a frame to prevent their movement in any direction outside of vertical movement. 
     The carriage  48  includes a mount  52  that is extendable into the receiving space  18 . The coupler  24  may be releasably engageable with one of the weights  14  in a same manner that the coupler  24  engages the handle  20  to define the coupled weight  26 . It should be understood that the pulley assembly  30  may include its own coupler  24  having a similar design as used with the dumbbell assembly  12  or it may be the same coupler  24  as used with the handle  20 . Alternately, the coupler  24  used with the pulley system  30  may have a completely different design which is adopted for engaging the mount  52 . However, the type of coupler  24  typically utilized will include one or more tines  28  or pins that are extendable between a pair of stacked ones of the weights  14  and inserted into the mount  52 . A plate  54  is provided that has a top side  56  and a bottom side  58 . The mount  52  is attached to and extends downwardly from the bottom side  58  while the first end  44  of the cable  42  is attached to the top side  56 . The cable  42  may be directly attached to the top side  56  or the first end  44  may include a structure for releasably engaging a catch on the top side  56  of the plate  54 . Embodiments that allow for releasable connection between the plate  54  and the cable  42  will also allow a user to place a conventional weight plate, such as a disc type weight having a central opening for receiving the end of a barbell, on the plate  54  and extend the cable through the central opening in the weight plate. However, the plate  54  may also include attachment points, such as hooks or catches, for engaging additional weights. The plate  54  is slidably attached to the vertical support  36  such that it can move vertically along the height of the vertical support  36  but is generally retained from lateral, forward, and rearward movement. 
     The mount  52  may have a structure which resembles, in some ways, the handle  20  as an efficient solution for coupling the weights  14  to the cable  42 . Thus, the mount  52  may include a first lateral panel  60  and a second lateral panel  62 . Each of the first  60  and second  62  lateral panels are vertically orientated and extend downwardly from the plate  58 . Each of the first  60  and second  62  lateral panels has an inner surface  64 , an outer surface  66  and a perimeter edge  68 . The perimeter edge  68  includes a front edge  70  and a rear edge  72  positioned oppositely of each other. The front edges  70  each have a plurality of receivers  74  therein that are disposed in vertical alignment with each other and releasably engageable with the coupler  24 . Each of the receivers  74  in one of the front edges  70  is horizontally aligned with one of the receivers  74  in the other one of the front edges  70  to define a pair of receivers  74 . Each pair of receivers  74  is aligned with one of the weights  14 . The receivers  74 , as shown in the imagines, may be positioned in the outer surfaces  66  and extend through each of the front  70  and rear  72  edges. The coupler  24  may include a pair of tines  28  attached to a handhold  29 . The tines  28  are engageable with the coupled weight  26  and an associated pair of the receivers  74 . Alternatively, the mount  52  may have alternate shapes including a “plug” shape having a generally same shape as the receiving space  18  wherein the mount still includes either receivers  74  or wells for receiving the tines  28  of the coupler  24 . 
     The vertical support  36  may include one or more, and if included most typically a pair, of rails  76  extending upwardly from the base  32 . The rails  76  extend through the plate  54 , and, though not needed, stabilize the plate  54  relative to the vertical support  36 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , the plate  54  has a pair of lateral edges  78  and each of the rails  76  is positioned adjacent to one of the lateral edges  78 . The weights  14  are positioned between the rails  76  but do not engage the rails  76  and most often are laterally spaced from the rails  76 . The base  32  and vertical support  36  may include stabilizing members  80  extending outwardly for engaging a floor surface to ensure that the pulley assembly  30  remains in a stable, vertical orientation. It should be understood that the pulley assembly  30  may include multiple pulley assemblies  30  coupled together and each may take different shapes and be of differing heights to provide for a variety of exercises typically accomplished with conventional pulley based exercising machines. 
     A handgrip  82  is attachable to the second end  46  of the cable  42 . The handgrip  82  may be tailored for specific exercises and many different, conventional handgrips are utilized with pulley exercising machines. For example, elongated bars may be used for doing what are known as “lat pull-downs” (for exercising the latissimus dorsi) while the same bar, or a shorter version thereof, can be used for various triceps exercises. Smaller handgrips  82  including single handholds may be used for exercising a single arm while rope-based handgrips target smaller muscle groups as well as allowing a user&#39;s wrists to rotate through an exercise. Generally, all conventional handgrips  82  used with pulley systems may be coupled to the second end. It should be further understood that, though not shown, a movable pulley may be added for engagement of the cable  42  between the pulley  38  attached to the upper end  40  and the base  32 . The movable pulley will be attached to the vertical support  36  and be movable along the height of the vertical support  36  to adjust the angle at which the cable  42  engages a user. This will facilitate, for example, biceps exercises where the second end  46  is lifted upwardly and is a conventional feature of many pulley-based systems. 
     Alternatively, the pulley assembly  30  may be mechanically coupled to other lifting machines, such as those used for leg exercises, for instance which often use pulley and weight combination systems for resistance. For such configurations the lifting machines are attached to the second end  46  of the cable  42  instead of the handgrip  82 . 
     In use, the pulley assembly  30  will allow a person to use a single weight set of dumbbell assemblies  12  to serve not only as the basis for dumbbell specific exercises, but also for a pulley-based system. It should be understood, that the system  10  may allow for the use the weight sets from multiple ones of the dumbbell assemblies  12  and the mount  52  of the carriage  48  will typically have a size to accept the weights  14  form at least a pair of dumbbell assemblies  12 , though the mount  52  may be increased in size to accept more weights  12  if such is determined to be practical and advantageous. Exercises utilizing cables  42  can target muscle groups not easily exercised with dumbbells alone while offering a fluid resistance to decrease the chances of injury. Moreover, since the weights  14  themselves are often a considerable contributor to the overall cost of a workout system, there is a corresponding significant reduction in overall cost by having the ability to use the weights  14  with more than one type of exercise equipment. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.