Patent Abstract:
A selectorized dumbbell has nested stacks of left and right weight plates, a handle that can be disposed between the two stacks of weight plates, and a selector that couples selected numbers of the left and right weight plates to left and right planar ends of the handle. The handle has at least one loop type hand grip located above the ends of the handle and above the weight plates to allow the dumbbell to be used as a kettlebell. This loop type hand grip can be replaced with a bar type hand grip if the dumbbell is to be used like a standard dumbbell, or the handle can be provided in kettlebell or standard versions thereof. Alternatively, the loop type hand grip can be movably disposed on the handle for movement between operative and non-operative positions.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of one or more previously filed provisional applications identified as follows: Application Ser. No. 61/229,857 filed Jul. 30, 2009. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to the field of exercise equipment and specifically to hand held weights in the form of dumbbells. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Adjustable weight dumbbells are known that use an elongated, cylindrical bar as the handle. An inner collar is inset inwardly from each end of the bar with the collar being releasably fixed to the bar by some type of fastener or holding device. The inset provides a space on each end of the bar that is used to support one or more weight plates on the ends of the bar outboard of the inner collars. After the user stacks a desired number of weight plates on the ends of the bar, the user installs an outer collar on each end of the bar to hold the stacked weight plates on the ends of the bar to prevent the weight plates from sliding off the bar during exercise. The user adjusts the exercise mass of the dumbbell by changing the number of weight plates that are held between the inner and outer collars on each end of the bar. Typically, the weight plates are flat, circular plates having a central bore for slipping the weight plates onto the bar. 
     To use the dumbbell described above, the user merely grabs the center of the bar between the stacks of weight plates on the ends of the bar. Inherently, the user&#39;s hand is positioned centrally between the stacks of weight plates along a centerline of the bar, which is also a centerline of the stacked weight plates. The user can then lift and manipulate the dumbbell in any of the known ways to perform various weight training exercises, such as arm curls, arm presses, etc. 
     In the past, one manufacturer of dumbbells of the type described above has offered an optional U-shaped handle for converting this type of dumbbell to a kettlebell style. The bottoms of the spaced legs of the U-shaped handle were formed with circular bores that were designed to slide onto the bar that formed the usual handle for the dumbbell. The user would remove weight plates and the inner and outer collars from one end of the bar to provide access to the center of the bar. The user would then slip the U-shaped handle onto the bar from this end of the bar, namely the end of the bar from which the weight plates and collars had been removed, simply by telescoping or inserting the bores in the legs of the U-shape onto the bar and by then sliding the U-shaped handle inwardly to the center of the bar. The removed weight plates and collars could then be replaced onto the end of the bar from which they had been taken. 
     When so installed as described above, the U-shaped handle was captured between the inner collars on the bar. In addition, the legs of the U-shaped handle were long enough so that the base of the U-shaped handle, namely the connecting piece between the two legs of the handle, was positioned to be parallel to the bar but to be vertically displaced above the weight plates. Thus, the user could now grab the base of the U-shaped handle and swing or manipulate the dumbbell in the manner of a kettlebell. Thus, a standard adjustable weight dumbbell could be converted in this manner to a kettlebell type of exercise device. 
     Other adjustable weight dumbbells are known which are referred to as selectorized dumbbells, such as that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,637,034 as also shown in  FIG. 1  of this application. In such a dumbbell, the handle is no longer a simple, cylindrical bar, but has a more complex shape. The handle of this type of dumbbell has a pair of planar ends that are spaced apart from one another but are rigidly joined to one another at least by a central hand grip that extends between the ends and is affixed thereto. In addition to the hand grip, there may be one or more cross tubes that also extend between and unite the spaced planar ends of the handle together. Some type of movable selector is used which coacts with the handle and with a desired number of weight plates disposed in left and right stacks of weight plates. When the selector is moved between different positions relative to the handle, different numbers of weight plates are coupled to the left and right ends of the handle to adjust the exercise mass of the selectorized dumbbell. 
     In a selectorized dumbbell of the type described above and as shown in  FIG. 1  of this application, there is no way to use the U-shaped handle of prior dumbbells with the selectorized dumbbell to provide a kettlebell style of exercise. The U-shaped handle of the prior dumbbell is designed to slip onto a bar from which access can be had from one end of the bar. In the selectorized dumbbell, even if one considers the hand grip a bar, the ends of the hand grip are united to planar left and right ends of the handle thereby blocking access to the hand grip. There is simply no way to slide an auxiliary U-shaped handle onto the hand grip of the handle of the selectorized dumbbell as one is blocked from doing so by either the planar left end of the handle or the planar right end of the handle. It would be an advance in the art to provide some way of converting this type of selectorized dumbbell into a kettlebell type of exercise device. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One aspect of this invention relates to a selectorized dumbbell which comprises a plurality of nested weights comprising a stack of nested left weight plates and a stack of nested right weight plates separated by a gap. At least a first handle is provided with the handle having a hand grip extending along an axis with the handle further having opposite, substantially planar left and right ends that are rigidly joined to one another. The handle may be dropped down into the gap between the stacks of nested left and right weight plates such that the left end of the handle is adjacent an innermost left weight plate in the left stack of weight plates and the right end of the handle is adjacent an innermost right weight plate in the right stack of weight plates. A selector is movable into different positions relative to the handle and relative to the weight plates for coupling selected numbers of left weight plates to the left end of the handle and selected numbers of right weight plates to the right end of the handle. The hand grip of the first handle comprises an upwardly extending loop that is fixed at a bottom portion thereof between the left and right ends of the handle to join the left and right ends of the handle together and with the loop having a top gripping portion that is vertically positioned above the left and right ends of the handle and above top edges of the weight plates in the manner of a kettlebell exercise device. 
     Another aspect of this invention relates to a selectorized dumbbell, which comprises a plurality of nested weights comprising a stack of nested left weight plates and a stack of nested right weight plates separated by a gap. A handle is provided having a first hand grip extending along an axis with the handle further having opposite, substantially planar left and right ends joined to opposite ends of the hand grip with the left and right ends of the handle extending perpendicularly to the hand grip. The first hand grip of the handle extends substantially horizontally between top and bottom edges of the left and right ends of the handle such that the first hand grip of the handle will be located below top edges of the weight plates in the manner of a standard dumbbell. A selector is movable into different positions relative to the handle and relative to the weight plates for coupling selected numbers of left weight plates to the left end of the handle and selected numbers of right weight plates to the right end of the handle. A second hand grip is provided comprising a loop that is carried on the handle. The loop is movable relative to the handle between a first operative position in which a top gripping portion of the loop is vertically positioned above the left and right ends of the handle and above top edges of the weight plates in the manner of a kettlebell exercise device and a second non-operative position in which the top gripping portion of the loop is disposed between the left and right ends of the handle. The user can use the dumbbell in the manner of a kettlebell exercise device by moving the second hand grip comprising the loop into its first, operative position and by grasping the top gripping portion of the loop or in the manner of a standard dumbbell by disposing the top gripping portion of the loop in its second non-operative position and by grasping the first hand grip rather than the top gripping portion of the loop. 
     Yet another aspect of this invention relates to a selectorized dumbbell which comprises a plurality of nested weights comprising a stack of nested left weight plates and a stack of nested right weight plates separated by a gap. A handle is provided having opposite, substantially planar left and right ends that are rigidly joined to one another. The handle may be dropped down into the gap between the stacks of nested left and right weight plates such that the left end of the handle is adjacent an innermost left weight plate in the left stack of weight plates and the right end of the handle is adjacent an innermost right weight plate in the right stack of weight plates. The handle carries a pair or hand grips thereon comprising a first cylindrical bar type hand grip that in use is substantially horizontal and extends between the left and right ends of the handle and is disposed beneath top edges of the weight plates in the manner of a standard dumbbell and a second loop type hand grip that in use has a top gripping portion that that is vertically positioned above the left and right ends of the handle and above top edges of the weight plates in the manner of a kettlebell exercise device. A selector is movable into different positions relative to the handle and relative to the weight plates for coupling selected numbers of left weight plates to the left end of the handle and selected numbers of right weight plates to the right end of the handle. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       This invention will be described more completely in the following Detailed Description, when taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded, perspective view of a prior art selectorized dumbbell known as the PowerBlock®; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a selectorized dumbbell that is convertible to a kettlebell configuration; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a selectorized dumbbell having a dedicated kettlebell configuration; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded, perspective view of the handle of the selectorized dumbbell of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a partially exploded, perspective view of a handle of a third embodiment of a selectorized dumbbell that is convertible to a kettlebell configuration; 
         FIG. 6  is an operational, perspective view of the handle of  FIG. 5 , particularly showing the kettlebell hand grip in a lowered, stowed position in which the kettlebell hand grip is not operational; and 
         FIG. 7  is an operational, perspective view similar to  FIG. 6 , but showing the kettlebell hand grip in a raised, accessible position in which the kettlebell hand grip is operational. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A selectorized dumbbell of the type with which this invention can be used is shown as  2  in  FIG. 1 . Dumbbell  2  is one of the PowerBlock® lines of dumbbells manufactured and sold by Power Block, Inc. of Owatonna, Minn. The details of such dumbbell  2  are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,637,034, assigned to the assignee of this invention, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     One characteristic of dumbbell  2  is the use of a plurality of nested weights  4 . Each weight  4  comprises a left weight plate  6   l , a right weight plate  6   r , and a pair of side rails  8  that hold weight plates  6  in a spaced apart orientation. Side rails  8  are attached in any suitable manner to the front and back edges of the pair of weight plates  6  that form one of weights  4  at the same vertical height along the front and back edges. 
     Weights  4  are nested in the sense that the left and right weight plates  6   l  and  6   r  in each weight  4  are progressively spaced apart slightly further from one another. Thus, all of the left weight plates  6   l  are nested against one another in a set of nested left weight plates  6   l  and all of the right weight plates  6   r  are nested against one another in a set of nested right weight plates  6   r . Obviously, to make this happen, side rails  8  used in each weight  4  in a set of weights  4  have progressively longer lengths. Side rails  8  used in the innermost weight will be the shortest with side rails  8  then becoming progressively longer as required to space weight plates  6  in the other weights  4  progressively further apart. This is shown in  FIG. 1  by the progressively longer lengths of side rails  8  proceeding from top to bottom. 
     A gap  12  is provided between the sets of nested left weight plates  6   l  and nested right weight plates  6   r . A handle  14  can be dropped down into gap  12 . Handle  14  has a pair of opposite left and right ends  18   l  and  18   r  that are connected together by spacers or cross tubes  20 . The user can drop his hand down between the two upper cross tubes  20  to grip a hand grip  22  that extends between the ends  18   l  and  18   r  of handle  14  parallel to cross tubes  20 . Hand grip  22  fixedly connects to the laterally spaced ends  18   l  and  18   r  of handle  14  approximately at the centers of the ends  18   l  and  18   r  of handle  14 . 
     Each end  18   l  and  18   r  of handle  14  has a vertical array of slots  24  that traverse across the end  18   l  and  18   r  of handle  14  from the front to the back of handle  14 . Slots  24  are substantially horizontal grooves or shelves cut or formed into the ends  18   l  and  18   r  of handle  14 . Slots  24  are adapted to receive a pair of horizontal prongs on a selector  26  that is used to adjust how many weights are attached to handle  14 . 
     Once handle  14  has been inserted by the user in gap  12 , a desired number of weights  4  can be selectively coupled to handle  14  depending upon how selector  26  is positioned. If selector  26  is inserted into handle  4  beneath the lowermost side rails  8 , then selector  26  will pick up all weights  4  when handle  14  is lifted. Moving selector  26  up will pick up fewer weights to thereby adjust the exercise mass carried by handle  14 . Essentially, only those weights  4  whose side rails  8  are above the location of selector  26  will be coupled to handle  14 . 
       FIG. 2  shows a first embodiment of a dumbbell  2  according to this invention. In this embodiment, a handle  14  like that shown in  FIG. 1  is used except that the usual dumbbell style hand grip  22  has been replaced with a kettlebell hand grip  28 . Kettlebell hand grip  28  will be fixedly secured in any suitable manner to each end  18   l  and  18   r  of handle  14  in place of dumbbell hand grip  22 . Kettlebell hand grip  28  includes an upwardly extending loop  30  that protrudes above weights  4  in the manner of a kettlebell exercise device. Thus, the user can grip loop  30  and lift and swing dumbbell  2  in the manner of a kettlebell. 
     It would be possible for dumbbell hand grip  22  and for kettlebell hand grip  28  to each be removable and replaceable from within handle  14 , e.g. by unbolting or unscrewing one hand grip and by then installing the other hand grip. Thus, one would convert dumbbell  2  from its traditional dumbbell use to kettlebell use by swapping out just the hand grip portions  22  or  28  of handle  14 . However, it would also be possible to sell and for a user to purchase two complete handles  14 , one with a dumbbell hand grip  22  and the other with a kettlebell hand grip  28 , with the user simply using whichever handle  14  that he or she desires at any given time. This latter alternative is attractive because the user does not have to bolt or unscrew anything to make the conversion. All the user has to do is pick up whichever handle  14  that has the hand grip style the user wishes to use and then drop that handle down into gap  12  of dumbbell  2 . 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  show a second embodiment of a dumbbell  2  according to this invention. This embodiment is a dedicated kettlebell style of dumbbell  2  in which the gap  12  in the nested weights  4  is narrowed so that it is no longer wide enough to accommodate a user&#39;s hand, i.e. it is no longer possible to use a dumbbell hand grip  22  in gap  12 . The only way for a user to use dumbbell  2  as shown in  FIG. 4  is in the manner of a kettlebell. Thus, handle  14  includes only a kettlebell hand grip  28 ′ with a loop  30 ′ protruding up above weights  4 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , handle  14  in this embodiment includes the ends  18   l  and  18   r , but such ends  18   l  and  18   r  are now spaced apart far enough simply to receive a mounting flange  32  on kettlebell hand grip  28 ′. In effect, flange  32  is tightly sandwiched and clamped between ends  18   l  and  18   r  when such ends are bolted or screwed together. Loop  30 ′ of kettlebell hand grip  28 ′ is fixed atop flange  32  as shown in  FIG. 4 . Ends  18   l  and  18   r  of handle  14  can be brought so close together in this embodiment since this version of dumbbell  2  is not designed to function as a normal dumbbell with the user&#39;s hand between the spaced weight plates  6 , but only as a kettlebell. 
     Kettlebell hand grips  28 ,  28 ′ as shown in the embodiments of  FIGS. 2 and 3  have the loops  30 ,  30 ′ thereof extending parallel to the axes of side rails  8 . Loops  30 ,  30 ′ could also be swung around 90° relative thereto to extend perpendicularly to the axes of side rails  8 . 
     Handle  14  for a third embodiment of a dumbbell  2  according to this invention is shown in  FIGS. 5-7 . This embodiment of dumbbell  2  will use a traditional set of nested weights  4  from the PowerBlock® dumbbell as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , namely where a normal sized gap  12  is provided such that a full sized handle  14  can be dropped into gap  12 . However, for the sake of clarity, the set of nested weights  14  is not shown in  FIGS. 5-7 . Only the handle  14  is depicted. 
     Handle  14  of the third embodiment of dumbbell  2  has all the characteristics of the usual handle for a PowerBlock® dumbbell, namely spaced left and right ends  18   l  and  18   r , upper cross tubes  20  and a dumbbell hand grip  22 . However, in this embodiment, handle  14  includes a kettlebell hand grip  28 ″ forming a loop  30 ″ that is installed on handle  14  and is carried with handle  14  in addition to dumbbell hand grip  22 . Kettlebell hand grip  28 ″ is selectively movable on handle  14  between a lowered, stowed position and a raised, accessible position. In the lowered, stowed position thereof as shown in  FIG. 6 , loop  30 ″ is located towards the bottom of handle  14  between the left and right ends  18   l  and  18   r  of handle  14  and cannot be gripped or used by the user since it will normally be obstructed by side rails  8  of weights  4 . In the raised, accessible position thereof as shown in  FIG. 7 , loop  30 ″ is located above all the weights  4  in a position where the user can grip kettlebell hand grip  28  and swing and use weights  4  in the manner of a kettlebell. 
     Kettlebell hand grip  28 ″ is U-shaped with loop  30 ″ being formed by the U-shape. Kettlebell hand grip  28 ″ has a pair of aligned circular openings  34  in the ends of the legs thereof. This allows kettlebell hand grip  28 ″ to be pivotally mounted on one of the cross tubes  20  of handle  14 . The pivoting action of hand grip  28 ″ around cross tube  20 , as indicated by arrow A in  FIG. 6 , is what permits movement of hand grip  28 ″ between the lowered, stowed position thereof and the raised, accessible position thereof. Such pivoting movement will be performed by the user when handle  14  is not inserted within the gap  12  of nested weights  4  in order that such movement not be obstructed by side rails  8 . 
     A detent or lock mechanism is provided in handle  14  to securely hold kettlebell hand grip  28 ″ in its lowered, stowed position or in its raised, accessible position. Such detent or lock mechanism comprises spring biased pop pins  36  that are received in sockets  38  beneath cross tube  20  in each  18   l  and  18   r  of handle  14 . See  FIG. 5 . Only one socket  38  is shown in  FIG. 5  in end  18   r  since the corresponding socket in end  18   l  is hidden. Each pop pin  36  cooperates with one of a series of holes  40  located in the legs of hand grip  28 ″ with holes  40  surrounding openings  34  on a diameter that allows each hole  40  to register with pop pin  36 . When a hole  40  is brought over and is aligned with pop pin  36  by virtue of pivoting motion of hand grip  28 ″, the internal spring bias on pop pin  36  will cause the head of pop pin  36  to extend and be received in a locking engagement with the hole. The spring force that biases pop pin  36  into such locking engagement is strong enough to hold hand grip  28 ″ in a desired position thereof during use of dumbbell  2 , but is not so strong that it cannot be overcome by the user providing manual force on hand grip  28 ″ to pivot hand grip  28 ″ around cross tube  20 . 
     One hole  40   a  is located on one side of opening  34  and is effective to lock hand grip in its lowered, stowed position as shown in  FIG. 6 . Three holes  40   b ,  40   c ,  40   d  spaced apart in increments of 30° or so are provided on the opposite side of opening  34 . One such hole  40   b ,  40   c ,  40   d  is used to receive pop pin  36  and lock hand grip  28 ″ in its raised, accessible position. When middle hole  40   c  is used as shown in  FIG. 7 , hand grip  28 ″ and loop  30 ″ thereof extend straight up from cross tube  20 . If holes  40   b  or  40   d  are used, hand grip  28  and loop  30 ″ will extend upwardly in an inclined fashion tilting either outwardly or inwardly, respectively, with respective to cross tube  20 . The series of holes  40   b - 40   d  allows the user to select whatever specific position of hand grip  28 ″ is most comfortable to him or her when using kettlebell hand grip  28  to exercise with dumbbell  2  in the manner of a kettlebell. 
     The embodiment of dumbbell  2  shown in  FIGS. 5-7  is advantageous because it allows a user to quickly and easily convert dumbbell  2  from use as a traditional dumbbell to use as a kettlebell. Only a single handle  14  need be purchased and used by the user. To convert dumbbell  2  into kettlebell use, the user need only lift handle  14  out of gap  12  until it clears the nested weights  4  and then grip kettlebell hand grip  28 ″ and swing it upwardly from the position shown in  FIG. 6  to the position shown in  FIG. 7 . The user can dispose hand grip  28 ″ either straight up and down as shown in  FIG. 7  or can incline it inwardly or outwardly depending upon which one of the holes  40   b - 40   d  is used to receive pop pin  36 . Then, the user simply drops the converted handle  14  back down into the gap  12  of the nested weights and positions selector  26  to pick up whatever number of weights the user wishes to use. When the user picks up handle  14  again, he or she can pick it up using the now raised and accessible kettlebell hand grip  28 ″ and the selected number of weights will rise with handle  14  for use as the exercise mass in a kettlebell style of exercise. 
     Various modifications of this invention will be apparent to those of skill in the art. Accordingly, the scope of this invention is to be limited only by the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0