US20100184570A1

US20100184570A1 - Dumbbell assembly

Info

Publication number: US20100184570A1
Application number: US12/355,134
Authority: US
Inventors: Tian-Jyue Cheng
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-01-16
Filing date: 2009-01-16
Publication date: 2010-07-22

Abstract

A dumbbell assembly includes a dumbbell unit having a handgrip portion, and a support base for seating the dumbbell unit thereon. The dumbbell unit has a handgrip portion and a carrying structure disposed movably above the support base. A user can raise the carrying structure to attach the handgrip portion and hold the handgrip portion and the carrying structure for carrying the whole dumbbell assembly by one hand.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a dumbbell assembly, and in particular to a dumbbell assembly having a carrying structure for carrying the dumbbell and dumbbell base simultaneously.
2. Description of Related Art
Nowadays, people usually have to work hard so that they have no time to go outdoor, a fitness center or a gym to do physical exercise. Therefore, people usually rely on fitness equipment, such as dumbbell, for doing physical exercise at home or in office. A traditional dumbbell is integrally constructed by lead or other metal. However the weight of the dumbbell is fixed, the dumbbell can not suit for different healthy conditions. Therefore, People need to buy different types of dumbbells having different weight, thereby occupying a relatively large living space in the house.
For improving the traditional dumbbell, an adjustable dumbbell assembly has been proposed in the prior art. The dumbbell assembly includes a handle rod and a plurality of identical weights assembled selectively on two distal ends of the handle rod. Therefore, a user can choose how many pieces of weights are to be assembled to the handle rod according to the user's requirement.
Generally speaking, the dumbbell assembly y is disposed on t on a support base when not in use. When a user picks up the dumbbell assembly, those pieces of weights not assembled on the handle rod will be left on the support base so as to prevent the weights scattering over the ground. Besides, a user usually uses the dumbbell assembly where he likes, such as in bedroom or living room. When the user shifts the dumbbell assembly, he needs to carry the dumbbell assembly in one hand and the support base in the other hand. That is inconvenient to the user.
More important, in case of carrying the dumbbell assembly and the support base in both hands, those pieces of weights left over and not fastened to the support base will slip off the support base and may cause injury on the user's foot accidentally.
Moreover, because each piece of the weights is identical to one another, adjustment to the weight rang is limited. The user needs to buy a heavier dumbbell assembly when the strength of the user gets stronger.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provides a dumbbell assembly to overcome the disadvantages encountered during use of the prior art dumbbell assembly. When a user moves the dumbbell assembly, the dumbbell unit and the support base can be combined via a carrying structure so as to prevent the weights from slipping off the support base and thus avoid falling down on the ground. Moreover, different types of weights can be assembled in the present invention for providing different adjustments to the weight.
To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a dumbbell assembly. The dumbbell assembly includes a dumbbell unit, a support base and a carrying structure.
The dumbbell unit includes a connecting rod, a weight choosing structure, and a plurality of weight discs. The connecting rod includes a handgrip portion and two mounting portions at both ends of the handgrip portion. The weight choosing structure is assembled to the mounting portion. The weight discs of different weights are selectively assembled to the weight choosing structure.
The support base has a loading side to permit seating of the weight discs thereon. The carrying structure includes retaining element, a carrying element, and a connecting element. The retaining element is used for preventing the carrying structure detaching from the base. The carrying element is movable with respect to the support base and is located above the loading side. The connecting element interconnects the retaining element and the carrying element. The carrying element can be raised to fasten the handgrip portion of the connecting rod.
Therefore, when a user wants to move the dumbbell assembly, he can raise the carrying element away from the support base, and then holds the carrying element and the handgrip portion by one hand to carry the dumbbell unit as well as the support base simultaneously. The weight discs are fixed on the base and will not fall down on the ground. Additionally, the weight choosing structure can choose a heavy weight disc for increasing the weight rang.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention can be fully understood from the following detailed description and preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the dumbbell assembly according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partly exploded view of the dumbbell assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a support base and a carrying structure of the dumbbell assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the support base and the carrying structure of the dumbbell assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are explanatory diagrams of the dumbbell assembly; and

FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are cross-sectional views of the dumbbell assembly of the present invention shown in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.
Please refer to FIG. 1, which illustrates a perspective view of a dumbbell assembly according to the present invention. The dumbbell assembly 1000 includes a dumbbell unit 2000, and a dumbbell base. The dumbbell base includes a support base 500, and a carrying structure 600. The dumbbell unit 2000 is positioned on the support base 500. The carrying structure 600 is located above the support base 500 and is movable relative thereto.
Please refer to FIG. 2, which illustrates an exploded view of the dumbbell unit 2000 according to the present invention. The dumbbell unit 2000 includes a connecting rod 100, two weight choosing structures 200 (only one is exploded in FIG. 2), a plurality of light weight discs 300 and at least one heavy weight disc 400.
The connecting rod 100 extends along an extension direction D1. The connecting rod 100 includes a handgrip portion 110 and two mounting portions 120 at two both ends of the handgrip portion 110. The handgrip portion 110 is to be held by user. The weight choosing structure 200 is assembled to each of the mounting portions 120. The light weight discs 300 can be selectively assembled with the weight choosing structure 200. The mounting portion 120 is a polygon in cross-section, and penetrates through the weight choosing structure 200.
Each weight choosing structure 200 includes a plurality of fixing elements 210, two latching elements 220, a choosing base 230, and a choosing element 240.
The fixing elements 210 extend parallel to one another along the direction perpendicular the extension direction D1. The mounting portion 120 of the connecting rod 100 penetrates through the fixing elements 210. The fixing elements 210 have a plurality of guiding holes 211 along the extension direction D1.
Each latching element 220 is slidable through the guiding holes 211 along the extension direction D1. Each latching element 220 has a constraining portion 221 and a latching connecting element 222. The constraining portion 221 extends perpendicularly from the latching connecting element 222. The latching connecting element 222 is extendable along an assembly direction D2.
The choosing base 230 is assembled to the fixing elements 210 and used for engaging the fixing elements 210. The choosing base 230 has two choosing holes 231 which extend along the extension direction D1. The choosing hole 231 penetrates through the choosing base 230 along assembly direction D2.
The choosing element 240 is located above the choosing base 230 and the latching element 220 extends through the choosing hole 231 to engage with the choosing element 240 such that the choosing element 240 and the latching element 220 are slidable simultaneously along the extension direction D1.
The light weight disc 300 is made from iron, lead, or other metals. The light weight discs 300 are parallel to one another along the direction perpendicular to the extension direction D1. Each of the light weight discs 300 is formed with a plugging groove 310 long a splitting direction D3. The splitting direction D3 extends in a direction opposite to the assembly direction D2.
The plugging groove 310 has a first side 311 and a second side 312 extending along the assembly direction D2. The first side 311 is formed with blocking groove 320 while the second side 312 is formed with an opening groove 330. When the light weight disc 300 is assembled to the fixing element 210 along the assembly direction D2, the fixing element 210 is plug into the plugging groove 310 in the light weight disc 300, where the constraining portions 221 are received in the blocking groove 320 and the opening groove 330 in the light weight disc 300.
When the constraining portion 221 is received in the blocking groove 320, the light weight disc 300 is fixed on the weight choosing structure 200. In case the constraining portion 221 is received in the opening groove 330 and disengaging from the blocking groove 320, the light weight disc 300 can be assembled to the weight choosing structure 200 along the assembly direction D2 or detached from the weight choosing structure 200 along the splitting direction D3.
The design of the heavy weight disc 400 can be the same as the light weight disc 300. The only difference resides in that the second blocking groove 420 is located on the second side 412 of the plugging groove 410 while the second opening groove 430 is located on the first side 411 of the plugging groove 410. The thickness of the heavy weight disc 400 along extension direction D1 and is greater than that of the light weight disc 300. The space between adjacent two the light weight discs 300 is intended to receive additional weight disc. Therefore, the heavy weight disc 400 is heavier than each of the light weight discs 300.
FIGS. 3 and 4 are exploded views of the support base and the carrying structure according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the support base and the carrying structure according to the present invention. The support base 500 has a loading side 510 and a bottom surface 520. The loading side 510 has two through holes 511, and a plurality of receiving grooves 530 outboard to the respective through hole 511. The receiving grooves 530 are used to receive the light weight discs 300 and the heavy weight disc 400. The bottom surface 520 of the support base 500 is formed with a cavity 521 having an innermost wall 5211. The cavity 521 and the through holes 511 are in spatial communication with each other.
The carrying structure 600 includes two connecting elements 610, two retaining elements 620, and a carrying element 630. Each connecting element 610 is connected to the retaining element 620 and the carrying element 630. The connecting elements 610 are movable slidably in the through hole 511 along the assembly direction D2.
The retaining element 620 extends from two oppose sides of the connecting element 610 and are received in the cavity 521. When the carrying element 630 is raised relative to the support base, the retaining elements 620 abut against the innermost wall 5211 of the cavity 521, thereby preventing disengagement of the carrying structure 600 from the support base 500.
The carrying element 630 has two ends connected respectively to the connecting elements 610. Thus, the carrying element 630 is disposed movably above the loading side 510. The carrying element 630 is lifted from the support base 500 so as to be coupled with the handgrip portion 110. The carrying element 630 has an attachment surface complementing with the shape of the handgrip portion 110. In this embodiment, the attachment surface 631 is concaved to conform to a lower side of the handgrip portion 110.
As to how to use the dumbbell assembly 1000 of the present invention is described in detailed in the following paragraphs. Please refer to FIG. 5, the carrying structure 600 is disposed in a lower position M1, i.e. the carrying element 630 is not picked up by the exerciser. There is a first separation space S1 between the handgrip portion 110 and the carrying element 630. There is a second separation space S2 between the loading side 510 of the support base 500 and the carrying element 630. Therefore, the exerciser's hand can be inserted into the first separation space S1 to hold the handgrip portion 110 to pick up the dumbbell unit 2000. The light weight disc 300 or the heavy weight disc 400 not assembled to the weight choosing structure 200 will be left on the support base 500.
Please refer to FIG. 6, in case the exerciser wishes to pick up the whole dumbbell assembly 1000. The exerciser can insert his hand into the second separation space S2 and lift the carrying element 630 up, and then the carrying element 630 is located in a rise position M2 and is attached to the handgrip portion 110. Finally both of the dumbbell unit 2000 and the support base 500 can be picked up together. That is, the retaining elements 620 abut against the innermost wall 5211 of the cavity 521 (please refer to FIG. 4) due to upward lifting such that when the dumbbell unit 2000 and the support base 500 will be picked up together. In this case, the relation position among the weight choosing structure 200, the light weight discs 300, the heavy weight disc 400 and the support base 500 is fixed. Therefore, no matter whether the weight disc 300 or heavy weight disc 400 are assembled or not, they can be fixed in receiving grooves 530 of the support base 500 via tight clamping action between the connecting rod 100 and the support base 500, thereby permitting the exerciser to pick up the whole dumbbell assembly 1000.
In conclusion, according to the present invention, the light weight disc 300 or the heavy weight disc 400 will not fall down when an exerciser picks up the whole dumbbell assembly 1000. Furthermore, the exerciser can pick up the whole dumbbell assembly 1000 by one hand, thereby shifting the dumbbell assembly 1000 in ease and conveniently.
In the other embodiment, the dumbbell unit 2000 of the present invention can be replaced by a conventional integrally formed dumbbell (not shown) for seating on the support base 500, after which, the carrying structure 600 is raised to attach with the handgrip portion of the conventional integrally formed dumbbell, thereby permitting shifting from one place to the other.
Please refer to FIG. 5, in case an exerciser wants to use the dumbbell unit 2000 for fitness, he can adjust the choosing element 240 to set the weight of the dumbbell unit 2000. In this embodiment, the choosing element 240 a is located in a first position P1, the choosing element 240 b is located in a second position P2, the choosing element 240 c is located in a third position P3, and the choosing element 240 d is located in a fourth position P4. Afterward, he can insert his hands into the first separation space S1 and grips the handgrip portion 110 and the carrying element 630 simultaneously to pick the dumbbell unit 2000 up.
In actual situation, the first position P1 shall be correspond to the fourth position P4, the second position P2 shall be correspond to the third position P3. Therefore, the weight at two ends of the dumbbell 2000 will be balance. The positions of this embodiment are just for explaining the present invention.
Please refer to FIGS. 7 and 8, and also to FIG. 2 as a reference. FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are cross-sectional views illustrating how the dumbbell unit 2000 is picked up by the exerciser. In the FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the light weight discs 300 a, 300 f and the heavy weight disc 400 a are not assembled to the weight choosing structure 200 and are therefore left on the loading side 510 of the support base 500. The constraining portion 221 a is within the blocking groove 320 of the weight discs 300 b, 300 c, so that the weight discs 300 b, 300 c are fixed on the weight choosing structure 200. The constraining portion 221 b is within the opening groove 330 of the light weight discs 300 a, 300 b, 300 c, so that the light weight disc 300 a, 300 b, 300 c can not be fixed on the weight choosing structure 200. Additionally, the constraining portion 221 a is not received in the blocking groove 320 of the light weight disc 300 a so that the weight disc 300 a is left on the support base 500.
Otherwise, the heavy weight disc 400 a is left on the support base 500, because the constraining portion 221 a is within the second opening groove 330, but the constraining portion 221 b is not within the second blocking groove 320 of the heavy weight disc 400 a.
The constraining portion 221 d is within the blocking groove 320 of the light weight discs 300 e, 300 d, and no matter whether the constraining portion 221 c is within the opening groove 330 of the weight discs 300 e, 300 d or not, the light weight discs 300 e, 300 d are assembled to the weight choosing structure 200.
In the same way, in case the constraining portion 221 d is not within the blocking groove 320 of the light weight disc 300 f and no matter whether the constraining portion 221 c is within the opening groove 330 of the weight discs 300 f or not, the light weight disc 300 f is left on the support base 500.
Otherwise, the constraining portion 221 d is within the second opening groove 330 of the heavy weight disc 400, and the constraining portion 221 c is within the second blocking groove 320 of the heavy weight disc 400 b so that the heavy weight disc 400 b is assembled to the weight choosing structure 200.
In conclusion, the numbers of the weight disc 300 and the heavy weight disc 400 assembled to the weight choosing structure 200 can be optionally chosen by adjusting the choosing element 240 of the present invention.
In addition, the thickness h1 of the heavy weight disc 400 can be shorter than the total thickness h2 of the three light weight discs 300, but the heavy weight disc 400 is heavier in weight than the light weight discs 300 combined together, since the light weight discs 300 in combination have recess space more than the disc 400 (see FIG. 8). Thereby, the weight rang of the dumbbell 2000 is enlarger than one dumbbell assembled with all the light weight discs without the heavy weight disc.
While the invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments, the description is not intended to be construed in a limiting sense. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims will cover any such modifications or embodiments as may fall within the scope of the invention defined by the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A dumbbell assembly comprising:

a dumbbell unit including

a connecting rod having a handgrip portion and two mounting portions at both ends of the handgrip portion,

a weight choosing structure assembled to each of the mounting portions, and

a plurality of weight discs selectively assembled with the weight choosing structure;

a support base having a loading side to permit seating of the weight discs thereon; and

a carrying structure including

a retaining element abutting against the support base to prevent disengagement of the carrying structure from the support base,

a carrying element located above the loading side of the support base and movable relative thereto, and

a connecting element connected to the retaining element and the carrying element;

wherein, the carrying element is raised relative to the support base to fasten the handgrip portion.

2. The dumbbell assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional surface of the mounting portion is a polygon in shape, the mounting portion penetrating through the weight choosing structure.

3. The dumbbell assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the weight choosing structure includes a plurality of fixing elements parallel to one another, the mounting portion penetrating through the fixing elements respectively along the extension direction.

4. The dumbbell assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the weight choosing structure includes a plurality of latching elements disposed in the fixing elements respectively.

5. The dumbbell assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of the latching elements includes a latching connecting element extending along an assembly direction and a constraining portion extending perpendicularly from the latching connecting element.

6. The dumbbell assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein each of the weight discs has a plugging groove to permit plug in of a respective one of the fixing elements therein.

7. The dumbbell assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the plugging groove in each of the weight discs has a first side extending along the assembly direction and formed with a blocking groove for receiving the constraining portion when the weight disc is fixed to the weight choosing structure.

8. The dumbbell assembly as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a heavy weight disc corresponding to the second side having a second blocking groove.

9. The dumbbell assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a heavy weight disc having a thickness greater than that of the light weight disc.

10. A dumbbell base for positioning a dumbbell having a handgrip portion and a plurality of weight disc, the dumbbell base comprising:

a support base having a loading side to permit seating of for the weight disc positioning thereon; and

a carrying structure including

a retaining element for preventing disengagement of the carrying structure from the support base,

a carrying element movable with respect to the support base and located above the loading side of the support base, and

wherein the carrying element is raised to fasten with the handgrip portion.

11. The dumbbell base as claimed in claim 10, wherein the retaining element extends from the connecting element.

12. The dumbbell base as claimed in claim 10, wherein the carrying element has an attachment surface complementing with the handgrip portion.

13. The dumbbell base as claimed in claim 10, wherein the support base has a bottom surface formed with a cavity, the retaining element being received in the cavity.

14. The dumbbell base as claimed in claim 13, wherein the loading side of the support base has a through hole communicating with the cavity, the connecting element being moveably disposed in the through hole.