Patent Grant
12076606
The present invention relates to an adjustable weight lifting device. My U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,206,274, 8,529,415, 8,715,143, 8,784,283, 8,932,188, 9,452,312, 9,566,465, 9,616,271, 9,669,252, 9,889,331, 9,974,994, 10,232,214, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/861,069 show features of adjustable weight lifting devices and are incorporated by reference. A common feature of these adjustable weight lifting devices is that a handle assembly is seated in a rack and, upon rotation of a portion of the handle assembly relative to another portion of the handle assembly, pins can be extended from the handle assembly to lock weight disks to the handle assembly, or can be retracted from the weight disks to unlock weight disks from the handle assembly.
I have discovered that it is desirable to improve the manner in which weight disks are secured to a handle assembly in such adjustable weight lifting devices. It is, additionally, desirable to permit greater numbers of weight disks to be secured to a handle assembly. I have further discovered that it is desirable to provide a simple, inexpensive technique for indicating how much weight is being held on a handle assembly, and, further to permit indication of how much weight is being held on the handle assembly even though a rotating portion of the handle is rotated through more than 360 degrees.
According to an aspect of the present invention, an adjustable weight lifting device comprises a tube, a pin movably disposed inside the tube, the pin comprising an external thread, and one or more driving knobs extending radially inward relative to an inner wall of the tube and engaging with the external thread, wherein the external thread comprises at least one portion having a first helix angle and at least one portion having a second helix angle, the second helix angle being smaller than the first helix angle.
According to another aspect of the present invention, an adjustable weight lifting device, comprises a tube, a housing having an axially inner portion nonrotatably attached to the tube at a first end of the tube and an axially outer portion that is rotatable relative to the axially inner portion, the axially inner portion comprising an axially inner portion face gear facing the axially outer portion and the axially outer portion having an axially outer portion face gear facing the axially inner portion, an index ring comprising an exterior surface provided with indicia and an inner surface, and one or more gears or cogwheels mounted on the inner surface of the index ring for rotation about one or more corresponding radially extending axes, each radially extending axis being perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the index ring and each gear or cogwheel meshing with the axially inner portion face gear and the axially outer portion face gear.
According to another aspect of the present invention, an adjustable weight lifting device, comprises a tube, a cylindrical member disposed in the tube, the tube and the cylindrical member being rotatable relative to each other and axially fixed relative to each other, a first housing having an axially inner portion nonrotatably attached to the tube at a first end of the tube and an axially outer portion nonrotatably attached to the cylindrical member at a first end of the cylindrical member, and a second housing having an axially inner portion nonrotatably attached to the tube at a second end of the tube and an axially outer portion nonrotatably attached to the cylindrical member at a second end of the cylindrical member.
The features and advantages of the present invention are well understood by reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings in which like numerals indicate similar elements and in which:
An adjustable weight lifting device 21 according to a presently preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in
As seen in
The first pin 33 and the second pin 37 each have a recess 41 along at least a majority of a length of each of the first pin and the second pin. A cylindrical member 45 is disposed in the recesses 41 of the first pin 33 and the second pin 37. The first pin 33 and the second pin 37 are ordinarily half-circular along the majority of the lengths of their exteriors, and the recesses 41 are also ordinarily half-circular and formed in a flat face 47 and 49, respectively, of the first pin and the second pin, respectively. The cylindrical member 45 is ordinarily circular or of any other suitable shape, typically matching a shape of the recesses 41.
One or more driving knobs 51 (e.g.,
As seen in
As seen, for example, in
As seen, for example, in
As seen in
As seen, for example, with reference to
In the illustrated embodiment, each axially inner portion 59 and 65 comprises an axially inner portion face gear 91 radially inwardly of the outwardly facing flange 87. The axially outer portions 51 and 67 each have an axially outer portion face gear 93 (
As seen, for example, in
As seen, for example, in
As seen, for example, in
As shown in
As seen in
The handle assembly 23 further includes a handle weight 131 attached to each of the axially outer portions 61 and 67 as seen in
The handle weight 131 will ordinarily include, at least on an axially outward face 137, a top male dovetail joint member 139 at a top of the handle weight and a bottom female dovetail joint member 141 at a bottom of the handle weight. As seen in, e.g.,
As seen in
As seen in, e.g.,
After the first and second pins 33 and 37 are rotated relative to the tube 31 so that the one or more driving knobs 51 have moved along the portions 35′ and 39′ of the external threads 35 and 39 having the first (larger) helix angle and are disposed at a point where the external thread transitions to the second (smaller) helix angle, the cam knob 69 is rotated to a position such that the one or more lateral pins 155 are retracted radially inward of the axially outer portion, i.e. the lateral pins are urged inwardly by the springs 161 against a smallest diameter D1 portion of the exterior surface 73 of the cam knob.
After the first and second pins 33 and 37 are rotated relative to the tube 31 so that the one or more driving knobs 51 have moved along the portions 35″ and 39″ of the external threads 35 and 39 having the second (smaller) helix angle and are disposed at a point where the external thread transitions to the first (larger) helix angle, the one or more lateral pins 155 are moved radially out of the one or more corresponding holes 157 against the force of the spring 161, i.e. the lateral pins are urged outwardly by the largest diameter D2 portion of the exterior surface of the cam knob 69.
Weight disks 25 are attached to the handle assembly 23 by providing a first or innermost one of the weight disks 25 disposed adjacent each handle weight 131 so that dovetail joint members in the first weight disk and the handle weight mate and prevent axial movement of the first weight disk relative to the hand weight. As seen, for example, in
The distance d1 is ordinarily equal to an axial length of a large helix angle portion 35′ or 39′ of the thread 35 or 39. The distance d2 is ordinarily equal to an axial length of a smaller helix angle portion 35″ or 39″ of the thread 35 or 39. It is presently preferred that d1 is greater than one half of the thickness of the handle weight 131 or the weight disks 25. The sum of the distances d1 and d2 will ordinarily equal the thickness of the handle weight 131 or the weight disks 25. When the axially outer ends 173 of the first and second pins 33 and 37 are at their axially innermost positions, the lateral pins 155 are retracted inside the axially outer portions 61 and 67 and no weight disks 25 or butterfly weight disks 27 are attached to the handle assembly 23.
Upon rotation of the axially outer portions 61 and 67 including the first and second pins 33 and 37 relative to axially inner portions 59 and 65 and the tube 31 so that the one or more driving knobs 51 have moved (e.g., axially inwardly relative to axial outer ends 173 of the pins so that the pins are caused to extend further axially outwardly from the tube) along the portions 35″ and 39″ of the external threads 35 and 39 having the second (smaller) helix angle and are disposed at a point where the external thread transitions to the first (larger) helix angle, the lateral pins 155 are moved radially out of the corresponding holes 157 against the force of the spring 161, i.e. the lateral pins are urged outwardly by the largest diameter D2 portion of the exterior surface of the cam knob 69 and the lateral pins are received in the radially extending openings 167 in the butterfly weight disks 27 so that the butterfly weight disks are prevented from moving axially and radially relative to the handle assembly 23. In this position, the axially outer ends 173 of the first and second pins 33 and 37 have moved from their axially innermost positions a distance d2 (
Upon continuing to rotate the axially outer portions 61 and 67 including the first and second pins 33 and 37 relative to axially inner portions 59 and 65 and the tube 31, the pins are received in the holes 169 in the first weight disks 25 adjacent the handle weights 131 and the axially outer ends 173 of the pins extend into the holes by the distance d1 as the result of the driving knobs 51 having moved along the portions 35′ and 39″ of the external threads 35 and 39 having the largest helix angles. When the pins 33 and 37 are received in the holes 169 in the first weight disks, radial movement of the first weight disks relative to the housings 57 and 63 is prevented. Because the first weight disks 25 are prevented from axial movement by the mating dovetail joints on the first weight disks and the handle weights 131, the first weight disks are thus secured to the handle assembly 23. In this position, the lateral pins 155 are retracted radially inward relative to the axially outer portions 61 and 67 and the butterfly weights 27 are released from the handle assembly 23. By causing the axially outer ends 173 of the pins 33 and 37 to extend into the holes 169 in the first weight disk 25 by a larger distance d1, the pins 33 and 37 can better prevent radial movement of the first weight disk relative to the handle assembly 23 than if the external thread has a constant helix angle and the distance d1 and d2 are equal so that the distance d1 is one half the thickness of the weight disk instead of greater than one half the thickness of the weight disk.
Upon continuing to rotate the axially outer portions 61 and 67 including the first and second pins 33 and 37 relative to axially inner portions 59 and 65 and the tube 31 so that the one or more driving knobs 51 have moved along further portions 35″ and 39″ of the external threads 35 and 39 having the second (smaller) helix angle and are disposed at a point where the external thread transitions to the first (larger) helix angle, the lateral pins 155 are moved radially out of the corresponding holes 157 against the force of the spring 161, i.e. the lateral pins are urged outwardly by the largest diameter D2 portion of the exterior surface of the cam knob 69 and the lateral pins are received in the radially extending openings 167 in the butterfly weight disks 27 so that, once again, the butterfly weight disks are prevented from moving axially and radially relative to the handle assembly 23. At the same time, the first weight disk 25 is also prevented from moving axially and radially relative to the handle assembly.
Upon continuing to rotate the axially outer portions 61 and 67 including the first and second pins 33 and 37 relative to axially inner portions 59 and 65 and the tube 31, the pins are received in the holes 169 in next innermost weight disks 25 adjacent to and axially outward of the first weight disks and the axially outer ends 173 of the pins extend into the holes of the next innermost weight disk by the distance d1 as the result of the driving knobs 51 having moved along the further portions 35′ and 39″ of the external threads 35 and 39 having the largest helix angles. When the pins 33 and 37 are received in the holes 169 in the next innermost weight disks 25, radial movement of the next innermost weight disks relative to the housings 57 and 63 is prevented. Because the next innermost weight disks 25 are prevented from axial movement by the mating dovetail joints on the next innermost weight disks and the first weight disks, the next innermost weight disks are secured to the handle assembly 23. In this position, the lateral pins 155 are again retracted radially inward relative to the axially outer portions 61 and 67 and the butterfly weights 27 are released from the handle assembly 23.
By continuing to rotate the axially outer portions 61 and 67 including the first and second pins 33 and 37 relative to axially inner portions 59 and 65 and the tube 31 so that the axially outer ends 173 of the pins extend further and further axially outward, further weight disks 25 can be attached to the handle assembly 23 in the manner described. Additionally, the butterfly weight disks 27 can alternately be attached to and released from the handle assembly 23 in the manner described. Ordinarily, the butterfly weight disks 27 will have a weight that is one half of the weight of the weight disks so that, by rotating the axially outer portions 61 and 67 including the first and second pins 33 and 37 relative to axially inner portions 59 and 65 and the tube 31, incremental addition of weight can be made in an amount equal to the weight of the butterfly weight disks.
By providing the external threads 35 and 39 on the first and second pins 33 and 37 each with at least one portion 35′ and 39′, respectively, having the first helix angle and at least one portion 35″ and 39″, respectively, having the second helix angle that is smaller than the first helix angle, it is possible to advance the pins in a desirable manner. Particularly, when a user turns the tube 31 and axially inner portions 59 and 65 of the first and second housings 57 and 63 through an angle relative to the axially outer portions 61 and 67, the first and second pins 33 and 37 will be extended or retracted relative to the tube 31 the lesser amount d2 when the driving knobs 51 engage with the portions 35″ and 39″ of the threads 35 and 39 having the smaller second helix angle than the distance d1 when the driving knobs engage with the portions 35′ and 39′ of the threads having the larger first helix angle. In a presently preferred embodiment, d1 is about 70% of a thickness of the weight disks 25 and d2 is about 30% of the thickness of the weight disks.
The axially inner portions 59 and 65 of the first and second housings 57 and 63 are ordinarily only rotatable relative to the axially outer portions 61 and 67 when the handle assembly 23 is seated in the rack 29 so that protrusions 177 (
As seen, for example, in
The rack 29 also includes weight disk supporting portions 195 that are arranged to support the weight disks 25 so that the axially innermost one of the weight disks is adjacent the axially outer face 137 of the handle weight and so that axially outermost ones of the weight disks are adjacent axially outer frame portions 197 of the rack. The axially outer frame portions 197 can include a male or female dovetail or other suitable joint member 199 for mating with a corresponding female or male joint member on an axially outer bottom of the axially outermost one of the weight disks 25. The axially outer frame portions 197 can be connected via longitudinal frame portions 201 on which the weight disks 25 can rest.
The joint members 139, 141, 143, 147, 161, 163, 199 can be formed integrally with the weight disks 25, handle weight 131, and axially outer frame portions 195, however, as seen in, for example,
The joint components 205 can be provided with a male joint component 209 on one side and a female joint component 211 on an opposite side and can be used either on the top or the bottom of the weight disks 25 and the handle weight 131. The male and female joint components 209 and 211 may be provided with a wedge shape to facilitate introduction of male joint components on one weight disk 25 or handle weight 131 into female joint components on other weight disks or handle weights. It will be observed that certain joint components 205 may be differentiated from other joint components by the introduction of a particular form of cover 213 in the female joint component. Additionally, a male joint member may be omitted on the axially outer surface of the outermost weight disks 25 and on the axially inner surface of the handle weight 131, such as by providing covers 213 and/or joint components 205 with different shapes. The joint member 199 on the axially outer frame portion 195 is illustrated as having been integrally formed with the axially outer frame portion, however, it, also, may be provided by installing a joint component 205 in a recess in the axially outer frame portion.
In the present application, the use of terms such as “including” is open-ended and is intended to have the same meaning as terms such as “comprising” and not preclude the presence of other structure, material, or acts. Similarly, though the use of terms such as “can” or “may” is intended to be open-ended and to reflect that structure, material, or acts are not necessary, the failure to use such terms is not intended to reflect that structure, material, or acts are essential. To the extent that structure, material, or acts are presently considered to be essential, they are identified as such.
While this invention has been illustrated and described in accordance with a preferred embodiment, it is recognized that variations and changes may be made therein without departing from the invention as set forth in the claims.
The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 18/107,734, filed Feb. 9, 2023, which is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/772,605, filed Apr. 28, 2022, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,602,661, issued Mar. 14, 2023, which was the U.S. national stage of International Application PCT/EP2020/064878, filed May 28, 2020, which are all incorporated by reference.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7087000 | Walker | Aug 2006 | B1 |
| 7137932 | Doudiet | Nov 2006 | B2 |
| 7377885 | Doudiet | May 2008 | B2 |
| 7491155 | Fenelon | Feb 2009 | B2 |
| 7862487 | Olson | Jan 2011 | B2 |
| 8529415 | Svenberg | Sep 2013 | B2 |
| 8715143 | Svenberg | May 2014 | B2 |
| 8784283 | Svenberg | Jul 2014 | B2 |
| 8932188 | Svenberg | Jan 2015 | B2 |
| 9452312 | Svenberg | Sep 2016 | B2 |
| 9566465 | Svenberg | Feb 2017 | B2 |
| 9616271 | Svenberg | Apr 2017 | B2 |
| 9643042 | Madden | May 2017 | B2 |
| 9669252 | Svenberg | Jun 2017 | B2 |
| 9889331 | Svenberg | Feb 2018 | B2 |
| 9974994 | Svenberg | May 2018 | B2 |
| 10092790 | Svenberg | Oct 2018 | B2 |
| 10232214 | Svenberg | Mar 2019 | B2 |
| 10232216 | Svenberg | Mar 2019 | B2 |
| 11013947 | Svenberg | May 2021 | B2 |
| 11135469 | Svenberg | Oct 2021 | B2 |
| 20030096683 | Fenelon | May 2003 | A1 |
| 20090156376 | Fenelon | Jun 2009 | A1 |
| 20100304939 | Svenberg | Dec 2010 | A1 |
| 20100304940 | Svenberg | Dec 2010 | A1 |
| 20100323856 | Svenberg | Dec 2010 | A1 |
| 20130231224 | Svenberg | Sep 2013 | A1 |
| 20130324375 | Svenberg | Dec 2013 | A1 |
| 20140206510 | Svenberg | Jul 2014 | A1 |
| 20140296041 | Svenberg | Oct 2014 | A1 |
| 20150094194 | Svenberg | Apr 2015 | A1 |
| 20160206339 | Akilian et al. | Jul 2016 | A1 |
| 20160367849 | Svenberg | Dec 2016 | A1 |
| 20170072244 | Svenberg | Mar 2017 | A1 |
| 20170072245 | Svenberg | Mar 2017 | A1 |
| 20170239511 | Svenberg | Aug 2017 | A1 |
| 20180140889 | Svenberg | May 2018 | A1 |
| 20180236296 | Svenberg | Aug 2018 | A1 |
| 20190001177 | Svenberg | Jan 2019 | A1 |
| 20190168058 | Svenberg | Jun 2019 | A1 |
| 20190168059 | Svenberg | Jun 2019 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20240091581 A1 | Mar 2024 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 17772605 | US | |
| Child | 18107734 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 18107734 | Feb 2023 | US |
| Child | 18519847 | US |
