1. Field of Invention
The invention relates generally to exercise weights and weight training, and more particularly, to a collapsible kettlebell system.
2. Description of Related Art
In general, a kettlebell is a weight looking somewhat like a cannonball with a handle. Kettlebells are believed to have originated in Russia, where the first recorded mention of a kettlebell occurred in a Russian dictionary around the early 1700s. The Russian word for kettlebell is pronounced “girya” and the men who lifted these weights were known as “gireviks.” Historically, kettlebells were manufactured from cast iron. Today, many companies produce their own brands of kettlebells and kettlebell exercise programs. Some conventional kettlebells feature adjustable weights or are rubber coated to improve safety. While today, there are sizes that range from 5 lbs to 175 lbs, the traditional Russian kettlebell is usually one which weighs 1 Pood (roughly 16 kg or 35 lbs).
Unlike traditional dumbbells, a kettlebell's center of mass is extended beyond the hand. This allows for swing movements not possible with traditional dumbbells. Because more muscle groups are utilized in the swinging and movement of a kettlebell than during the lifting of dumbbells, a kettlebell workout is said to be more effective, and yields better results in less time. Because the center of mass on a kettlebell “swings,” micro-muscles are needed to balance a kettlebell, more so than a dumbbell. The existence of a handle allows for “release moves,” which are not available to a dumbbell.
U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2010/0048362 to Liford et al., 2008/0081744 to Gormley, and 2009/0093348 to Wang disclose variations on the traditional kettlebell. However, these and other conventional kettlebell devices lack, among other things, a collapsible housing, i.e., bladder, for decreasing the size of the kettlebell when not in use and a handle that includes a cavity for receiving a fixed predetermined weight to increase the overall weight of the kettlebell.
The present invention overcomes these and other deficiencies of the prior art by providing a collapsible kettlebell system featuring a collapsible bladder like structure that can be filled by a liquid such as water, metal shavings or shot, sand and other appropriate substances. A handle is provided as a point of grip by the user. The handle includes an internal support structure that keeps the collapsible bladder in place. The internal support may also include a cavity for an optional/additional weight.
In an embodiment of the invention, a collapsible kettlebell system comprises: a collapsible bladder, wherein the collapsible bladder comprises an opening for receiving or removing a weighted substance; a handle; an internal support member affixed to the handle; and a base plate, wherein the base plate can be detachably coupled to the internal support member. The internal support member may comprise an internal cavity for receiving an optional weight. The collapsible kettlebell system may be weighted by the weighted substance and the optional weight. The base plate may attach to the internal support member using screw threads. The opening may be adapted to receive a plug, the opening may comprise a plug receptor, and the plug receptor may comprise an O-ring. The opening may be adapted to receive a liquid or solid, where the liquid can include water. The handle may be removable for quick removal of the weighted substance.
In another embodiment of the invention, a device comprises; a handle; and a collapsible housing attached to the handle, the collapsible housing configured to receive a weighted liquid or solid, the handle and collapsible housing forming a kettlebell, The device may further comprise an internal support member comprising an internal cavity for receiving an optional weight. The device may be weighted by the weighted liquid or solid and the optional weight. The device may further comprise a base plate attaching to the internal support member using screw threads and an opening in the collapsible housing configured to receive the weighted liquid or solid. The opening may comprise a plug receptor, the plug receptor may comprise an O-ring, and the opening may be adapted to receive a plug. The liquid may comprise water. The handle is removable for quick removal of the weighted liquid or solid.
An advantage of the present invention is that the collapsible housing reduces in size when not in use for ease of storage. Additionally, the kettlebell is configured to receive additional weight to customize the kettlebell to the person or the workout.
The foregoing, and other features and advantages of the invention, will be apparent from the following, more particular description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, the accompanying drawings, and the claims.
For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the ensuing descriptions taken in connection with the accompanying drawings briefly described as follows:
Further features and advantages of the invention, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the invention, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying
The present invention overcomes these and other deficiencies of the prior art by providing a collapsible kettlebell system featuring a collapsible bladder like structure that can be filled by a liquid such as water, metal shavings or shot, sand and other appropriate substances. A handle is provided as a point of grip by the user. The handle includes an internal support structure that keeps the collapsible bladder in place. The internal support may also include a cavity for an optional/additional weight.
In operation, the internal support member 124 is placed through the top opening 116 and is secured to the base plate 128 through the bottom opening 118. The collapsible bladder 110 is then filled with an appropriate substance through the opening 114. Once the collapsible bladder 100 is filled to a desired volume, the opening 114 is sealed by securing a plug 115 to the plug receptor 117. The plug 115 or plug receptor 117 may further include an O-ring 119 for preventing leakage of a liquid substance is used as the weight.
The handle 120 can be manufactured from any rigid material, the identification and implementation of which is apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the handle 120 is manufactured from a thermosetting polymer or a thermoplastic such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyethylene, or polyvinyl chloride. The collapsible bladder 110 may be manufactured from any elastic and/or collapsible material, the identification and implementation of which is apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the collapsible bladder 100 is manufactured from a vinyl polymer or synthetic rubber such as neoprene or polychloroprene.
It is to be recognized that depending on the embodiment, certain acts or events of any of the methods described herein can be performed in a different sequence, may be added, merged, or left out altogether (for example, not all described acts or events are necessary for the practice of the method). Moreover, in certain embodiments, acts or events may be performed concurrently, rather than sequentially.
The invention has been described herein using specific embodiments for the purposes of illustration only. It will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, however, that the principles of the invention can be embodied in other ways. Therefore, the invention should not be regarded as being limited in scope to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but instead as being fully commensurate in scope with the following claims.
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/331,603, filed May 5, 2010, and entitled “COLLAPSIBLE KETTLEBELL SYSTEM,” the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61331603 | May 2010 | US |