US20080214368A1

US20080214368A1 - Dumbbell Head Impact Protection Structure

Info

Publication number: US20080214368A1
Application number: US11/680,806
Authority: US
Inventors: Guofang Cao
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-03-01
Filing date: 2007-03-01
Publication date: 2008-09-04

Abstract

Dumbbell assembly tends to break from its outer edge, despite having a cushioning coating. Present invention discloses and claims a “groove” structure that enhances the durability of the coating at minimal cost, reducing the frequency to re-coating dumbbell weight heads.

Description

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to an improved design and construction of fixed weight dumbbell assembly wherein the dumbbell head obtains better protection at time of impact.
Dumbbells are commonly found in fitness centers and gyms, as well as for sale to private users. Typically, two weight-heads are attached to the two ends of a handle bar, forming a fixed weight dumbbell.
Oftentimes, the weight heads are coated with rubber, urethane or some combination of epoxy resin, serving to protect the weight heads from rust and impact, and also providing a work material for adding poundage figures, color coding or for branding purpose.
These weight heads are constantly being dropped, impacted and thrown around, in gyms and private houses. Although the coating material serves to cushion the brute force applied to the dumbbell weight head, invariably, the coating at the outer edge of a dumbbell tends to break down, after substantial impacting.
Present invention seeks to address this problem with minimal cost and attain great benefits.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate the preferred embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

A brief description of the drawings is as follows:

FIG. 1 shows the traditional dumbbell heads being wrapped in a layer of coating.

FIG. 2 shows the dumbbell head, without coating, having an annular groove or step machined off, at the outer edge.

FIG. 3 shows the dumbbell heads having coating wrapped around the dumbbell head, with the resulting extra thickness of the coating material around the groove or step area.

FIGS. 4 a, 4 b and 4 c shows the side view of the surface of the groove having uneven texture, containing notches, bumps and combination of notches and bumps, resulting in stronger holding power and better cushioning by the coating material.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In FIG. 1, a dumbbell assembly having two weight heads is shown. The inner weight head is shown in broken line. This is the current art of wrapping weight heads with coating and cushioning materials, such as rubber, urethane, epoxy and/or resin.
In FIGS. 2 and 3, an annular groove is machined off from the outer edge of the weight heads, forming a shape similar to a stair step. Coating material, consequently, is thicker at this junction.
When a dumbbell is dropped, or is impacted in some fashion, the outer edge of a weight head takes the first brute force. A dumbbell constructed pursuant to the disclosure of present invention will endure more of such impact force, due to the extra thickness and the better cushioning.
FIGS. 4 a, 4 b and 4 c contain magnified profiled view for the surface of the “groove” or “step”. As shown, said “groove” or “step” is machined to be uneven, containing patterns of notches or bumps, or even ditches/ridges, so as to produce better holding power of coating material, and resulting in better impact protection to dumbbell weight head.

Claims

1. Dumbbell head impact protection structure, comprising:

a. a cylindrical dumbbell head having an annular groove removed from one end farthest from the handle bar; and,

b. a layer of coating material wrapped around said dumbbell head so that the coating has extra thickness at the place of said annular groove.

2. Dumbbell head structure of claim 1 wherein said annular groove is in the shape similar to a stair step.

3. Dumbbell head structure of claim 1 wherein the exposed surface of annular groove is machined to have small notches to enhance contact area with coating material.

4. Dumbbell head structure of claim 1 wherein the exposed surface of annular groove is machined to have small bumps to enhance contact area with coating material.

5. Dumbbell head structure of claim 1 wherein the exposed surface of annular groove is machined to have small notches and bumps to enhance contact area with coating material.