Abstract:
An adjustable kettlebell has a series of plates in stacked relationship, a handle having a shaft passing through the weights and a retaining arrangement including a base plate engageable with the shaft for holding the plates together between the handle and the retaining arrangement. The invention is improved by a dome top having an outer surface formed with a locating pocket for receiving a portion of the handle in a snap fit therein, and an inner surface positioned upon an uppermost surface of the plates, and a reinforcement plate snap fit into a central hub of the base plate and engageable with a lower end of the shaft.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application relates to and claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/847,692, filed Sep. 28, 2006. 
     
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to exercise training devices and, more particularly, pertains to an adjustable plate loaded kettlebell used to develop strength, endurance, work capacity and balance in physical conditioning of the human body. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The kettlebell is an exercise device that has been in the United States and Europe for over a century. The typical traditional kettlebell is a non-adjustable, cast iron weight that looks like a cannon ball with a suitcase handle on its top. Cast iron kettlebells are expensive ranging and priced from $90.00 for a 16 kilogram kettlebell and up to $180.00 for a 40 kilogram kettlebell. There are also demands for a wider range of kettlebell weights, since they are only generally available in fixed weight versions of 16, 24, 32 and 40 kilograms. Several problems characterize the use of kettlebells. The athlete must have a wide range of kettlebells. As strength levels increase, the athlete needs a heavier kettlebell that can be increased in weight by small increments. In order to be able to increase the weights of smaller increments, the cast iron kettlebells would have to come in more sizes. Storage and expense would then become a problem. 
         [0004]    One type of adjustable kettlebell is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,316,683, issued to Calvert on Sep. 23, 1919. In this design, a separate handle is screwed onto a separate shaft which passes through a series of stacked, non-rotatable weight plates enclosed by a pair of hemispherical casing portions. A nut is attached to the bottom of the shaft and acts as a depression in the lower portion of the casing to aid in holding the components of the device together. 
         [0005]    In recent years, other versions of the kettlebell have appeared in which bar bell plates have been attached to a handle, these plate loaded kettlebells are adjustable from 10 lbs. to over 100 lbs. An example of recent adjustable plate loaded kettlebells is shown in U.S. Design Pat. Nos. D522,594 and D522,595, both of which issued Jun. 6, 2006 to Gregory J. Donahue and Joseph E. Gromley. 
         [0006]    Despite the existence of the prior art, it remains desirable to provide an adjustable kettlebell with a unique handle and plate retaining structure. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    It is a general object of this invention to provide a kettlebell than enables an athlete or exerciser to be able to have a kettlebell that can be increased in weight with small increments. Doing this will enable an athlete or exerciser to train more effectively while reducing the cost and storage space that would be necessary for a large set of cast kettlebells. 
         [0008]    The present invention relates to an adjustable kettlebell including a first set of vertically stacked plates having central bores registered with each other and fully exposed, outer peripheral edges aligned with each other. A retaining plate is positioned in stacked relationship against a lowermost one of the first set of plates and has a flat bottom, and a central reinforcement plate with a central hole aligned with the central bores of the plates. A dome top has an outer surface formed with a locating pocket therein, and an inner surface positioned upon an uppermost one of the first set of plates. The inner surface is recessed to receive a second set of vertically stacked plates having central bores registered with each other and with the central bores of the first set of plates. A handle unit is integrally formed by a rounded handle portion including lower ends joined to a handle base that has an internally threaded shaft depending therefrom. The handle base is snap fit in the locating pocket of the dome top, and the shaft passes through the central bores of the first and second set of plates and contacts the reinforcing plate at a lower end of the shaft. A fastener passes through the central hole in the reinforcement plate and is threaded into the lower end of the shaft for holding the first and second set of plates, the handle unit, the dome top and the retaining plate together. 
         [0009]    The locating pocket is defined by a bottom wall, a pair of end walls and a pair of opposed side walls provided with retaining snaps thereon. The handle base includes a U-shaped channel having front and back walls joined to a lower wall. The handle base is received in the locating pocket such that upper edges of the front and back walls define snap edges that are engaged by the retaining snaps on the side walls of the locating pocket enabling the handle base to be frictionally retained in the locating pocket. The lower wall of the handle base engages the bottom wall of the locating pocket. The inner surface of the dome top includes a set of recesses of varying sizes for accommodating varying sizes of the second set of plates. Certain of the first set of plates are solid weight plates and others of the first set of plates are plastic spacer plates. Each plastic spacer plate has a circular hub, a first inner ring surrounding the hub, a second inner ring surrounding the first inner ring, an outer peripheral edge surrounding the second inner ring and a series of radially extending walls connecting the inner rings and the peripheral edge. The second set of plates are preferably solid weight plates. The retaining plate is a plastic plate having a central hub for receiving the reinforcement plate in a snap fit. The handle unit, the weight plates, the reinforcement plate and the fastener are all constructed of metal. 
         [0010]    In another aspect of the invention, an adjustable kettlebell has a series of plates in stacked relationship, a handle having a shaft passing through the plates and a retaining arrangement including a base plate engageable with the shaft holding the plates together between the handle and the retaining arrangement. The invention is improved by a dome top having an outer surface formed with a locating pocket for receiving a portion of the handle in a snap fit therein, and a lower surface positioned upon an uppermost surface of the plates, and a reinforcement plate snap fit into a central hub of the base plate and engageable with the lower end of the shaft. 
         [0011]    Various other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be made apparent from the following description taken together with the drawings. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    The drawings illustrate the best mode presently contemplated in carrying out the invention. 
           [0013]    In the drawings: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an assembled, adjustable plate loaded kettlebell embodying the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a top view of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a front view of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a side view of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a bottom view of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is an exploded view of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a sectional view of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0021]      FIGS. 8 and 9  are views showing details of retaining structure in a dome top of the kettlebell; 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the handle unit used in the kettlebell; 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  is a top perspective view of the dome top of the kettlebell; 
           [0024]      FIG. 12  is a bottom perspective view of the dome top; 
           [0025]      FIG. 13  is a top view of  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 14  is a side view of  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 15  is a front view of  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 16  is a bottom view of  FIG. 15 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 17  is a top perspective view of a spacer plate used in the kettlebell; 
           [0030]      FIG. 18  is a top view of  FIG. 17 ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 19  is a front view of  FIG. 17 ; 
           [0032]      FIG. 20  is a bottom view of  FIG. 17 ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 21  is a top perspective view of a retaining plate used in the kettlebell; 
           [0034]      FIG. 22  is a bottom perspective view of the retaining plate; 
           [0035]      FIG. 23  is a top view of  FIG. 21 ; 
           [0036]      FIG. 24  is a front view of  FIG. 21 ; and, [ FIG. 25  is a bottom view of  FIG. 23 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0037]    Referring to the drawings,  FIGS. 1-7  illustrate a preferred embodiment of an adjustable plate loaded kettlebell  10  embodying the present invention. With particular reference to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the kettlebell  10  is generally comprised of a handle unit  12 , a dome top  14 , a series of vertically stacked circular weight plates  16 , a series of vertically stacked circular spacer plates  18 , a flat retaining or base plate  20  and a threaded fastening screw  22 . 
         [0038]    As best seen in  FIGS. 6 and 10 , the handle unit  12  includes a wide, thick rounded handle portion  24  capable of being grasped centrally with one hand of an exerciser, or alternatively, on each end thereof with both hands of the exerciser. Bottom ends of the handle portion  24  are attached to a handle base  26  in the form of a U-shaped channel having a front wall  28 , a back wall  30  and a lower wall  32  joined together. Rivets  34  secure the bottom ends of the handle portion  24  between the front and back walls  28 ,  30 . The lower wall  32  is formed with an opening  36  for receiving a top end of a cylindrical shaft  38  that extends downwardly. Rivets  40  anchor the top end of the shaft  38  to the front and back walls  28 ,  30  of handle base  26 . As seen in  FIG. 10 , the lower portion of the round shaft  38  has a flat end  42  and an internally threaded passage  44 . 
         [0039]    Referring now to  FIGS. 6-9  and  11 - 16 , the dome top  14  has an outer surface  46  and an inner surface  48 . The outer surface  46  has a semi-hemispherical shape and is formed with a locating pocket  50  that is configured to matingly receive the handle base  26 . The locating pocket  50  is formed with a bottom wall  52 , a pair of end walls  54 ,  56 , and a pair of opposed side walls  58 , 60 , each of which is provided with a retaining snap  62  thereon along an upper portion thereof. Bottom wall  52  is formed with a through hole  64  for receiving the shaft  38  of the handle portion  24 . 
         [0040]    It is a distinctive feature of the invention that once the shaft  38  is passed through the through hole  64 , the handle base  26  is frictionally retained in the locating pocket  50  of the dome top  14  as the respective upper edges  28   a ,  30   a  of the front wall  28  and back wall  30  are snap fit beneath the retaining snaps  62  as depicted in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . 
         [0041]    The inner surface  48  of dome top  14  includes a set of recesses of varying sizes for accommodating various sizes of the weight plates  16 . As seen in  FIG. 12 , the recesses are formed by circular rings  66 ,  68  of varying diameters. The rings  66 ,  68  are interconnected by a plurality of radially extending walls  70  which are also joined to end walls  54 ,  56  and side walls  58 ,  60  of the locating pocket  50 . 
         [0042]    The adjustable kettlebell  10  is provided with a series of weight plates  16  and spacer plates  18 . In the preferred embodiment, there are three solid weight plates  16   a ,  16   b ,  16   c  of varying diameter and weight which typically are constructed of metal. There are also seven spacer plates  18  of equal size which are preferably formed from plastic. As seen in  FIGS. 17-20 , each spacer plate  18  is identical and includes a circular hub  72 , a first inner ring  74 , a second inner ring  76  and an outer peripheral edge  78 . Radially extending walls  80  interconnect the hub  70  to the ring  74 ,  76  and the peripheral edge  78 . The weight plates  16   a ,  16   b ,  16   c  and the spacer plates  18  all have central bores  82  which are aligned or registered with each other when the kettlebell  10  is assembled. 
         [0043]    A first set of circular plates is formed by weight plate  16   c  and spacer plates  18  with each plate having generally the same diameter. A second set of circular plates is formed by the weight plates  16   a  and  16   b  that are positioned inside the dome top  14 . It should be understood that the plates may be any combination of weight plates and spacer plates as desired. All plates have flat upper and lower surfaces. 
         [0044]    Referring to  FIGS. 21-25 , the retaining plate  20  is a plastic circular plate similar in construction to the spacer plates  18 , but smaller in diameter. The retainer plate  20  has a flat top wall and a flat bottom wall. Another feature of the invention resides in an metal reinforcement disc  84  that is snap fit upon tabs  86  provided on the central hub  87  of the retaining plate  20 . The disk  84  is formed with a central hole  88  that is designed to be aligned with the central bores  82  of the plates  16  and  18 . The bottom wall of disk  84  also includes a recess  90  aligned with the hole  88  for completely receiving the head of fastening screw  22 . 
         [0045]    For assembly, the handle unit  12  is snapped into the dome top  14 , the desired weight plates  16  and spacer plates  18  are loaded onto the handle shaft  38  and retaining plate  20  is positioned under the lowermost spacer plate  18  by threading the fastener  22  into the threaded passage  44  of the shaft  38 . 
         [0046]    When fully assembled, the plates  16  and  18  are tightly held between the bottom wall  52  of the locating pocket  50  and the retaining plate  20 . The flat end  42  of shaft  38  is drawn against the reinforcement disk  84  in the center of retaining plate  20 . The reinforcement disk  84  will help to absorb the forces transmitted along the shaft  38 . The head of fastening screw  22  is flush with the bottom of the retaining plate  20  so that the kettlebell  10  sits upright on a flat support surface to make it easily accessible to the exerciser. The assembled kettlebell  10  presents an aesthetic, compact, contour with the peripheral edges of the dome top  14 , the weight plate  16   c  and the spacer plates  18  in alignment with each other. The bottom wall of the locating pocket  50  provides a stop surface for the uppermost surface of the top weight plate  16   a . The dome top  14  provides for pockets to hold smaller weight plates  16  other than those held outside the dome top  14 . The handle unit  12  has a design which is shorter in length than previous devices, and the retaining plate  20  and fastening screw  22  are designed so that the plates  16 ,  18  will vibrate should the screw  22  become loosened. 
         [0047]    Although not illustrated, it should be appreciated that the kettlebell  10  may be assembled without the dome top  14  in which the case lower wall  32  of the handle unit  12  directly contacts the uppermost weight plate  16 . It should be further appreciated that other locking mechanisms, such as a locking collar, may be used on the lower end of shaft  38  in lieu of the retaining plate  20  and screw  22 . 
         [0048]    Various alternatives and embodiments are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter regarded as the invention.