Patent Application
20110021327
Aspects of the invention relate generally to fixed-weight dumbbells and barbells and, more particularly, to an apparatus and method for securing such dumbbells and barbells using locknuts.
Fixed-weight dumbbells and barbells have weights that are permanently or semi-permanently fixed, in contrast to adjustable dumbbells and barbells where weights may be added and removed as needed. Common fixed-weight dumbbell and barbell configurations include 5 pounds, 10 pounds, 20 pounds, 30 pounds, 50 pounds, and so forth. In a typical arrangement, one or more weight plates are mounted at each end of a bar or handle and held in place via a mechanical fastener, such as a bolt and the like. In some instances, washers or end caps may be disposed between the bolt heads and the weight plates to more securely fasten the weight plates to the bar or handle.
Fixed-weight dumbbells like the one shown in
Accordingly, what is needed is a more reliable way to secure weight plates to the bar or handle of a fixed-weight dumbbell or barbell. More specifically, what is needed is a fixed-weight dumbbell or barbell wherein the bolts holding the weight plates to the bar or handle are locked in place and prevented from backing out over time.
Aspect of the invention relate to an improved apparatus and method for assembling fixed-weight dumbbells and barbells. The apparatus and method use locknuts to secure weight plates to the fixed-weight dumbbells and barbells. The locknuts are permanently (or semi-permanently) attached or affixed to opposing ends of the bars or handles of the fixed-weight dumbbells and barbells. Attaching the locknuts to the bar or handle may be accomplished by any known permanent or (semi-permanent) attaching technique, including welding, soldering, fusing, braising, bonding, and the like. Bolts or other threaded means are then screwed through openings in the weight plates into the locknuts to secure the weight plates to the bar or handle. Such an arrangement securely locks the bolts or other threaded means to the bar or handle, thus preventing them from loosening and backing out over time, even under severe shock and vibration conditions.
The foregoing and other advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings, wherein:
The drawings described above and the written description of specific structures and functions below are not presented to limit the scope of what has been invented or the scope of the appended claims. Rather, the drawings and written description are provided to teach any person skilled in the art to make and use the inventions for which patent protection is sought. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that not all features of a commercial embodiment of the inventions are described or shown for the sake of clarity and understanding.
Persons of skill in this art will also appreciate that the development of an actual commercial embodiment incorporating aspects of the inventions will require numerous implementation-specific decisions to achieve the developer's ultimate goal for the commercial embodiment. Such implementation-specific decisions may include, and likely are not limited to, compliance with system-related, business-related, government-related and other constraints, which may vary by specific implementation, location and from time to time. While a developer's efforts might be complex and time-consuming in an absolute sense, such efforts would be, nevertheless, a routine undertaking for those of skill in this art having benefit of this disclosure.
It should be understood that the embodiments disclosed and taught herein are susceptible to numerous and various modifications and alternative forms. Thus, the use of a singular term, such as, but not limited to, “a” and the like, is not intended as limiting of the number of items. Also, the use of relational terms, such as, but not limited to, “top,” “bottom,” “left,” “right,” “upper,” “lower,” “down,” “up,” “side,” and the like, are used in the written description for clarity in specific reference to the drawings and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention or the appended claims.
As mentioned above, aspects of the invention relate to an improved apparatus and method for assembling fixed-weight dumbbells and barbells. Specifically, aspects of the invention involve using locknuts to secure weight plates to the fixed-weight dumbbells and barbells. The locknuts are permanently (or semi-permanently) attached or affixed to opposing ends of the bars or handles of the dumbbells and barbells. Bolts or other threaded means may then be screwed through openings in the weight plates and into the locknuts to secure the weight plates to the bar or handle. Such an arrangement prevents the bolts or other threaded means from loosening and backing out over time, even under severe shock and vibration conditions.
Referring now to
In accordance with aspects of the invention, locknuts 224 and 226 may be disposed at opposing ends of the bar or handle 206, one locknut on each end, coaxial with the annular stops 220 and 222 and the bar or handle 206. Each locknut 224 or 226 may be permanently (or semi-permanently) attached or otherwise mounted to a respective end of the bar or handle 206 so that the locknut 224 or 226 is fixedly, rigidly, or otherwise immovably held in place relative to the bar or handle 206. The attaching of the locknuts 224 and 226 may be accomplished using any technique known to those having ordinary skill in the art, including by welding, soldering, fusing, braising, bonding, and the like. The bolts 208 and 210 may then be screwed into the locknuts 224 and 226 to secure the weight plates 202 and 204 to the bar or handle 206.
In some implementations, annular recesses may be formed in the weight plates 202 and 204, as defined by annular walls 228 and 230 and back walls 232 and 234, respectively, in order to receive the locknuts 224 and 226 fully within the weight plates 202 and 204. Such annular recesses in the weight plates 202 and 204 may provide protection for the locknuts 224 and 226 to prevent tampering and exposure to potentially damaging contact with the external environment.
Any suitable locknut 224 and 226 known to those having ordinary skill in the art may be used for the dumbbell 200 (and other dumbbells and barbells discussed later herein), including locknuts having a single locking mechanism as well as locknuts having multiple locking mechanisms. Examples of locknuts 224 and 226 that may be used for the dumbbell 200 include those described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,391,712 (King, et al.) and European Publication No. 0101783 (Yamamoto, et al.), both of which are incorporated herein by reference, as well as commonly-owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, entitled “Locknut Having Double Locking Mechanism,” mentioned previously. The type, size, thread count, thread type, and other characteristics of the locknuts 224 and 226 may vary and may be selected depending on the requirements of the particular application.
In accordance with aspects of the invention, locknuts 320 and 322 may be disposed fully within opposing ends of the bar or handle 306, one locknut on each end, coaxial with the bar or handle 306. Annular recesses may be formed in the ends of the bar or handle 306, as defined by annular walls 324 and 326 and back walls 328 and 330, respectively, for receiving the locknuts 320 and 322 within the ends of the bar or handle 306. The annular recesses in the ends of the bar or handle 306 provide protection for the locknuts 320 and 322 to prevent tampering and exposure to potentially damaging contact with the external environment.
As discussed above, each locknut 320 and 322 may be permanently (or semi-permanently) attached or otherwise affixed to a respective end of the bar or handle 306 so that the locknut is fixedly, rigidly, or otherwise immovably held relative to the bar or handle 306. Such attaching may be accomplished using any technique known to those having ordinary skill in the art, including by welding, soldering, fusing, braising, bonding, and the like. The bolts 308 and 310 may then be screwed into the locknuts 320 and 322 to secure the weight plates 302 and 304 to the bar or handle 306. Although not expressly shown, it is also possible to use a mechanical restraint, such as a lip, tabs, or other structure extending from the annular walls 324 and 326 out over the locknuts 320 and 322 to restrain and thereby secure the locknuts 320 and 322 within the annular recesses in the opposing ends of the bar or handle 306.
In some implementations, annular recesses may also be formed in the weight plates 302 and 304, as defined by annular walls 332 and 334 and back walls 336 and 338, respectively, for receiving the bolts 308 and 310 partially or fully within the weight plates 302 and 304. The annular recesses in the weight plates 302 and 304 provide protection for the bolts 308 and 310 to minimize tampering and exposure to potentially damaging contact with the external environment and also give the dumbbell 300 a more aesthetically pleasing appearance.
Referring now to
In a similar manner to that discussed earlier for the dumbbell 300, locknuts 420 and 422 may be disposed fully within opposing ends of the bar or handle 406, one locknut on each end, coaxial along longitudinal axis “D” with the bar or handle 406. Annular recesses may be formed in the ends of the bar or handle 406, as defined by annular walls 424 and 426 and back walls 428 and 430, respectively, for receiving the locknuts 420 and 422 within the ends of the bar or handle 406. The annular recesses in the ends of the bar or handle 406 provide protection for the locknuts 420 and 422 to prevent tampering and exposure to potentially damaging contact with the external environment. If desired, annular stops (not expressly shown) may also be provided flushed with the bar or handle 406 and coaxial along axis “D” thereof to support the weight plates 402 and 404.
Each locknut 420 and 422 once again may be permanently (or semi-permanently) attached or otherwise affixed to a respective end of the bar or handle 406 so that the locknut is fixedly, rigidly, or otherwise immovably held relative to the bar or handle 406. As before, the attaching may be accomplished using any technique known to those having ordinary skill in the art, including by welding, soldering, fusing, braising, bonding, and the like. The extensions 408 and 410, or rather the threaded section 434 thereof, may then be screwed into the locknuts 420 and 422 to secure the weight plates 402 and 404 to the bar or handle 406. Mechanical restraints, such as a lip, tabs, or other structure extending from the annular walls 424 and 426 over the locknuts 420 and 422 may also be used in the manner described above.
While the disclosed aspects of the invention have been described with reference to one or more specific implementations, those skilled in the art will recognize that many changes may be made. Accordingly, each of the foregoing embodiments and obvious variations thereof is contemplated as falling within the spirit and scope of the different aspects of the invention, which are set forth in the following claims.
This application is related in subject matter to, and incorporates herein by reference in its entirety, commonly-owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ entitled “Locknut Having Double Locking Mechanism,” and filed on the same day as this application.
