U.S. patent application number 10/669939 was filed with the patent office on 2005-03-24 for hollow dumbbell.
Invention is credited to Su, Wu-Shuan.
Application Number | 20050065001 10/669939 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34313794 |
Filed Date | 2005-03-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050065001 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Su, Wu-Shuan |
March 24, 2005 |
Hollow dumbbell
Abstract
A hollow dumbbell includes right and left shells which are
connected to each other through a hollow neck member, and which
respectively define two accommodation chambers therein adapted for
containing liquid to increase the weight of the dumbbell. The neck
member defines a passage therein which extends along a longitudinal
axis and which has two ends that are in fluid communication with
the accommodation chambers, respectively. An access port is
provided to permit access to one of the accommodation chambers and
the passage. A plug member is detachably inserted into the access
port to close the same. A light-related brightening member is
disposed in one of the right and left shells and the neck
member.
Inventors: |
Su, Wu-Shuan; (Ta-Li City,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
TROP PRUNER & HU, PC
8554 KATY FREEWAY
SUITE 100
HOUSTON
TX
77024
US
|
Family ID: |
34313794 |
Appl. No.: |
10/669939 |
Filed: |
September 24, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/106 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 2209/10 20130101;
A61H 7/001 20130101; A63B 21/075 20130101; A63B 2225/74
20200801 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/106 |
International
Class: |
A63B 021/072 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A hollow dumbbell adapted to be filled with liquid therein for
increasing weight thereof, said dumbbell comprising: right and left
shells spaced apart from each other along a longitudinal axis, and
respectively defining two accommodation chambers adapted for
containing the liquid therein; a hollow neck member elongated along
the longitudinal axis, and interconnecting said right and left
shells, said neck member having a cross-section which is smaller
than that of each of said right and left shells, and being adapted
to be gripped by hand, said neck member defining a passage therein
which extends along the longitudinal axis and which has two ends
that are in fluid communication with said accommodation chambers,
respectively; one of said right and left shells and said neck
member being formed with an access port that provides access to a
respective one of said accommodation chambers and said passage; a
plug member detachably inserted into said access port so as to
close said access port; and a light-related brightening member
disposed in one of said right and left shells and said neck
member.
2. The hollow dumbbell of claim 1, wherein said one of said right
and left shells and said neck member has an outer wall which
surrounds the longitudinal axis, and which is formed with a recess
that extends towards a respective one of said accommodation
chambers and said passage and that extends along the longitudinal
axis, said light-related brightening member including a
battery-powered lighting body which is received in said recess.
3. The hollow dumbbell of claim 2, wherein said battery-powered
lighting body includes two illuminating portions and a control
switch electrically connected to said illuminating portions.
4. The hollow dumbbell of claim 2, wherein said lighting body is
made from a fluorescent material.
5. The hollow dumbbell of claim 2, wherein said right and left
shells and said hollow neck member are molded into a one-piece
construction from a transparent plastic material.
6. The hollow dumbbell of claim 5, wherein said light-related
brightening member further includes a plurality of fluorescent
bodies which are disposed in a respective one of said accommodation
chambers and said passage and which are adapted to be mixed with
the liquid.
7. The hollow dumbbell of claim 6, wherein said fluorescent bodies
are in form of flakes.
8. The hollow dumbbell of claim 5, wherein said transparent plastic
material has incorporated therein a fluorescent substance.
9. The hollow dumbbell of claim 1, further comprising a flexible
hook-and-loop strap fastened around said neck member to facilitate
gripping.
10. The hollow dumbbell of claim 1, wherein said plug member is
engaged threadedly with said access port.
11. The hollow dumbbell of claim 1, wherein said neck member has a
barrier portion which is disposed in said passage between said ends
and which extends in radial directions relative to the longitudinal
axis to block said passage so as to divide said passage into right
and left passageways that are in fluid communication with said
accommodation chambers of said right and left shells, respectively,
said access port including right and left inlets which are disposed
in said neck member and which are in fluid communication with said
right and left passageways, respectively, said plug member
including right and left plugs which are disposed to engage
threadedly said right and left inlets, respectively.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to a hollow dumbbell, more
particularly to a hollow dumbbell adapted to be filled with liquid
for increasing weight.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional dumbbell 1 is shown to
include a handle portion 11 and two weight portions 12 which are
formed in one piece of cast metal. The dumbbell 1 is hard and rigid
and may cause injuries if it slips off and falls and hits a user's
feet or body.
[0005] Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, another conventional dumbbell
2 is proposed, which is molded from a flexible plastic material.
The dumbbell 2 includes a handle 21 and two weight portions 22,
with an accommodation space defined therein for receiving liquid,
such as water, so as to increase the weight of the dumbbell 2. An
access hole 222 is formed in one of the weight portions 22 to
provide access to the accommodation space. A plug 223 is inserted
detachably in the access hole 222 to close the access hole 222.
Each of the weight portions 22 has a foldable outer wall 221 such
that the dimension of the accommodation space of the weight
portions 22 is changeable so as to adjust the weight of the
dumbbell 2. However, as the conventional dumbbell 2 has a
monotonous appearance, it is boring to perform exercises using the
dumbbell 2.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a hollow
dumbbell which can be used under poor ambient light conditions and
which has an appealing appearance.
[0007] According to this invention, the hollow dumbbell includes
right and left shells which are spaced apart from each other along
a longitudinal axis, and which respectively define accommodation
chambers therein adapted for containing liquid to increase weight
of the dumbbell. A hollow neck member is elongated along the
longitudinal axis, and interconnects the right and left shells. The
neck member has a cross-section which is smaller than that of each
of the right and left shells, and is adapted to be gripped by hand.
The neck member defines a passage therein which extends along the
longitudinal axis and which has two ends that are in fluid
communication with the accommodation chambers, respectively. One of
the right and left shells and the neck member is formed with an
access port that provides access to a respective one of the
accommodation chambers and the passage. A plug member is detachably
inserted into the access port to close the access port. A
light-related brightening member is disposed in one of the right
and left shells and the neck member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent in the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiments of the invention, with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional dumbbell;
[0010] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of another
conventional dumbbell;
[0011] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the first
preferred embodiment of a hollow dumbbell according to this
invention;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the first
preferred embodiment;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the first preferred embodiment
in a state of use;
[0014] FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the second
preferred embodiment of a hollow dumbbell according to this
invention;
[0015] FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of the third
preferred embodiment of a hollow dumbbell according to this
invention; and
[0016] FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of the fourth
preferred embodiment of a hollow dumbbell according to this
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0017] Before the present invention is described in greater detail,
it should be noted that same reference numerals have been used to
denote like elements throughout the specification.
[0018] Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, the first preferred embodiment of
a hollow dumbbell 3 according to the present invention is shown to
comprise right and left shells 5 which are spaced apart from each
other along a longitudinal axis, a hollow neck member 4 which is
elongated along the longitudinal axis and which interconnects the
right and left shells 5, a plug member 52, and a light-related
brightening member.
[0019] The right and left shells 5 and the hollow neck member 4 are
molded into a one-piece construction from a transparent plastic
material. Preferably, the transparent plastic material has
incorporated therein a fluorescent substance. Each of the right and
left shells 5 defines an accommodation chamber 30 therein so as to
be adapted for containing liquid, such as water 8, in order to
increase the weight of the dumbbell 3. The neck member 4 has a
cross-section which is smaller than that of each of the right and
left shells 5 so as to be gripped by hand, and defines a passage
301 therein which extends along the longitudinal axis, and which
has two ends that are in fluid communication with the accommodation
chambers, respectively. An access port in form of an inlet 51 and
is formed in the right shell 5 to provide access to the
accommodation chamber 30 of the right shell 5 such that water 8 can
be introduced into the accommodation chambers 30 and the passage
301 through the inlet 51.
[0020] The plug member 52 is detachably inserted into the inlet 51
so as to close the inlet 51. Particularly, the plug member 52
includes a threaded shank 521 which passes through an O-ring 7 and
which engages threadedly an internally threaded surface 511 of the
inlet 51 so as to prevent leakage of the water 8, and a rotary knob
522 for rotating the plug member 52.
[0021] A recess 41 is formed in an outer wall 42 of the neck member
4 which surrounds the longitudinal axis, extends inwardly towards
the passage 301, and is elongated along the longitudinal axis. The
light-related brightening member includes a battery-powered
lighting body 6 which is received in the recess 41. The
battery-powered lighting body 6 includes two illuminating portions
61 and a control switch 62 connected electrically to the
illuminating portions 61. Alternatively, the brightening member may
include a fluorescent bar which is made from a fluorescent material
and which does not require a battery.
[0022] In use, the brightening member 6 is first inserted into the
recess 41 for illumination. Then, the accommodation chambers 30 and
the passage 301 are filled with water 8 introduced through the
inlet 51 so that the brightening member 6 is retained in the recess
41 steadily. If desired, a plurality of fluorescent bodies 81, such
as fluorescent pellets or flakes, can be disposed in the
accommodation chambers 30 and the passage 301 to mix with the water
8. Finally, the plug member 52 is inserted into the inlet 51 to
close the inlet 51. Referring to FIG. 5, a flexible hook-and-loop
strap 9 maybe fastened around the neck member 4 to increase the
frictional force so as to facilitate gripping.
[0023] When the dumbbell 3 of this invention is used in a
relatively dark place, due to the presence of the brightening
member, i.e. the battery-powered lighting body 6 or the fluorescent
bar and the fluorescent flakes 81, the dumbbell 3 is illuminated so
that the pattern of movement of the dumbbell 3 can be identified,
thereby enhancing the fun of exercising using the dumbbell 3.
[0024] Moreover, since the right and left shells 5 and the neck
member 4 are made from a flexible plastic material with an
appropriate flexibility, the dumbbell 3 can be conveniently carried
and stored. Besides, as water is readily available for filling the
dumbbell 3, the dumbbell 3 can be used in almost any place.
Furthermore, the overall weight of the dumbbell 3 can be varied to
suit a variety of users by varying the amount of water introduced
into the dumbbell 3.
[0025] Referring to FIG. 6, the second preferred embodiment of a
dumbbell is shown to be similar to the first embodiment in
construction, except that a plurality of battery-powered bodies or
fluorescent bars 6' are received in a plurality of recesses 53 that
are formed in outer walls of the right and left shells 5 which
surround the longitudinal axis.
[0026] Referring to FIG. 7, the third preferred embodiment of a
dumbbell is shown to be similar to the second embodiment in
construction, except that the outer wall 42 of the neck member 4 is
thicker than the outer wall of the neck member in the second
embodiment so that the passage 301 is comparatively narrow, thereby
increasing the rigidity of the neck member 4. As such, the outer
wall 42 of the neck member 4 in this embodiment may be formed with
a rough gripped surface for massaging the user's hand during
exercising. In addition, the access port includes right and left
inlets 32 which are formed in the outer wall 42 of the neck member
4 and which are respectively communicated with the passage 301
respectively such that the liquid 8 can be introduced into the
passage 301 through the right and left inlets 32. The plug member
includes two plugs 100, which are disposed to pass through two
O-rings 110, respectively, and to engage threadedly the right and
left inlets 32, respectively. Note that one of the plugs 100 may be
disposed to block the passage 301 such that the accommodation
chambers 30 of the right and left shells 5 are not communicated
with each other and are respectively filled with the liquid 8.
[0027] Referring to FIG. 8, the fourth preferred embodiment of a
dumbbell is similar to the third embodiment, except that a barrier
portion 31 is formed integrally with the outer wall 42 of the neck
member 4. The carrier portion 31 extends in radial directions
relative to the longitudinal axis to be disposed in the passage 301
between the ends to block the passage 301 so as to divide the
passage 301 into right and left passageways 302, 303 that are in
fluid communication with the accommodation chambers 30 of the right
and left shells 5, respectively. As such, the right and left inlets
32 are in fluid communication with the right and left passageways
302, 303, respectively.
[0028] While the present invention has been described in connection
with what is considered the most practical and preferred
embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to
the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various
arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest
interpretations and equivalent arrangements.
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