U.S. patent application number 10/709134 was filed with the patent office on 2005-10-20 for dumbbell saddle.
Invention is credited to HARMS, ROBERT E..
Application Number | 20050233872 10/709134 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35096977 |
Filed Date | 2005-10-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050233872 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HARMS, ROBERT E. |
October 20, 2005 |
DUMBBELL SADDLE
Abstract
An easy-to-manufacture protective saddle for a dumbbell,
comprising a generally U-shaped member, including a curved element
having a top surface, a base portion, and an inner end; and a
generally vertical element having an upper end and an interior end
attached to said inner end of the U-shaped member; wherein a
non-marring surface for providing contact with a dumbbell to be
placed on the saddle is located on said U-shaped member. The saddle
has a plurality of means for attachment of the saddle to a frame
located in said base portion. The surface is placed onto the
U-Shaped member.
Inventors: |
HARMS, ROBERT E.; (HOUSTON,
TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MALIN HALEY AND DIMAGGIO, PA
1936 S ANDREWS AVENUE
FORT LAUDERDALE
FL
33316
US
|
Family ID: |
35096977 |
Appl. No.: |
10/709134 |
Filed: |
April 15, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/104 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 21/0726 20130101;
A63B 71/0036 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/104 |
International
Class: |
A63B 021/078; A47F
005/08 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An easy-to-manufacture protective saddle for a dumbbell,
comprising: a generally U-shaped member, including: a curved
element having a top surface, a base portion, and an inner end; and
a generally vertical element having an upper end and an interior
end attached to said inner end of the U-shaped member; wherein a
non-marring surface for providing contact with a dumbbell to be
placed on the saddle is located on said U-shaped member.
2. The saddle of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of means
for attachment of the saddle to a frame located in said base
portion.
3. The saddle of claim 1, wherein the non-marring surface is
unitary in construction.
4. The saddle of claim 3, wherein the surface is injection molded
onto the U-Shaped member.
5. The saddle of claim 3, wherein the surface is sprayed upon the
U-shaped member.
6. The saddle of claim 2, wherein the means for attachment include
an elongated attachment member located in a complementary void in
said base portion.
7. The saddle of claim 2, wherein each attachment member is adapted
for use in a complementary cavity in said frame.
8. The saddle of claim 6, wherein the means for attachment are
securely connected to the base portion.
9. The saddle of claim 1, wherein the vertical member further
comprises a divot for accommodating a handle on said dumbbell.
10. The saddle of claim 1, wherein the surface includes
polyurethane.
11. A method for forming a saddle for a dumbbell, comprising the
steps of: forming a core having a generally U-shaped member,
having: a curved element having a top surface, a base portion, and
an inner end; and a generally vertical element having an upper end
and an interior end attached to said inner end of the U-shaped
member; and a plurality of voids located through the base portion;
placing means for attachment through the voids whereby means for
attachment extend below the base; forming a non-marring surface for
providing contact with a dumbbell to be placed on the saddle
located at least on a top portion of the U-shaped member and on the
interior end of the vertical element.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of forming comprises
the steps of: placing the core at least partially within a mold;
and placing a substance which forms a non-marring surface into the
mold and around the core, whereby at least a portion of the means
for attachment is not covered in the substance.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein the means for attachment are
securely connected to the base portion before the core is placed in
a mold.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the means for attachment
comprise a threaded bolt.
15. The method of claim 11, wherein the substance is a rubber that
adheres to the core.
16. An easy-to-manufacture frame for a plurality of dumbbells,
comprising: a plurality of pairs of saddles oriented to accommodate
each weight on a dumbbell, each saddle comprising: a generally
U-shaped member, including: a curved element having a top surface,
a base portion, and an inner end; and a vertical element having an
upper end and an interior end attached to said inner end of the
U-shaped member; wherein a non-marring surface for providing
contact with a dumbbell to be placed on the saddle is located on
said U-shaped member.
17. The frame of claim 16, further comprising a plurality of means
for attachment of the saddle to a frame located in said base
portion.
18. The frame of claim 16, wherein said frame comprises
complementary holes for the means for attachment.
Description
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to a saddle for a dumbbell. More
particularly the invention relates to a saddle that is easy to
manufacture and does not mar a dumbbell which is placed inside it.
This invention also relates to a rack having complementary
non-marring saddles.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] Dumbbell racks and the saddles associated with them that are
found in the market have several problems associated with them.
Racks, in order to be strong, are generally made of steel or some
other metal. For the same reason, the saddles are made of metal as
well. In fact, in the present market, a separate piece of iron or
steel is placed at an angle on the rack to keep a dumbbell from
falling off of the rack. It may or may not be attached to a rounded
saddle for the dumbbell. This piece may be sharp and injure a
person as they remove or replace a dumbbell. In the current
designs, the dumbbell is placed on a metal saddle on an angle to
prevent the dumbbell from falling off the rack. When the metal
saddle hits the dumbbell, the dumbbell becomes damaged over use.
Thus, the saddles of the present art mar the surface of the
dumbbell. This is especially distressing where the dumbbells have a
high gloss finish, such as chrome or another highly reflective
material.
[0005] Furthermore, the metal on metal contact between the saddle
and the means for attaching the saddle to a rack can mix with
ambient moisture or a person's sweat, causing the saddle, rack and
even the dumbbell to rust easily. The rust is unsightly, and in
fact may be a health hazard.
[0006] Moreover, in the racks in the present art, there is a single
point of attachment between the saddle hand the rack. After a
period of time, this single point of attachment gets worn. And the
saddle tends to rattle and/or spin. The rattling eventually causes
additional wear and causes the saddle to bet in improper
orientation for receipt of a dumbbell.
[0007] The present art in saddles and dumbbell racks is therefore
deficient and may not be entirely healthy and sanitary. Thus, there
is a need for a saddle which will not expose a person using
dumbbells to rust. There also exists a need for a saddle which will
not mar a dumbbell. There also exists a need for a dumbbell saddle
which securely attaches to a rack with multiple attachment points.
There also exists a need for a means for attaching the saddle to a
rack which is encased in a non-marring material to serve a dual
purpose of securely attaching a means for attaching the saddle to a
rack to the saddle itself, while simultaneously reducing the chance
of rust on the means for attachment.
[0008] The saddle is designed to be applied to a dumbbell rack that
has the need for a saddle to support the dumbbell when not in use.
It is a self contained saddle preferably made of steel or cast iron
and encased by virgin rubber. It is attached with two means for
attachment such as bolts to prevent the saddle from coming loose
from the rack or spinning after use. Dumbbells that are stored on
the present saddle will be protected against damage. With the
design described herein there is no bolt showing through the saddle
to attach it to the rack. Other designs have a bolt through the
saddle and will rust almost immediately from perspiration from the
user and/or ambient moisture. Since no angle iron is required to
hold the dumbbell in place, the user will not have to worry about
hitting their hand on any sharp object when placing or removing the
dumbbell in and out of the saddle. Also, the design described
herein is a unique self-contained saddle that protects the
dumbbells that rest inside them.
[0009] Dumbbell racks having saddles currently use a section of
angle iron or steel that a saddle is attached and bolted onto. The
bolt goes in from the top and attaches with a nut. After a period
of time, the saddle rotates. The bolt also begins to rust from the
perspiration from the user. The dumbbell rests on the angle steel
or iron causing damage to the dumbbell when removing and adding to
the rack. The present saddle allows the dumbbell to rest on a
rubber surface thereby preventing contact with metal. Thus, the
dumbbell is not damaged. The new saddle also attaches with two
bolts to prevent it from rotating. Furthermore, the present design
is easy to manufacture.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0010] It is an object of the present invention to provide a saddle
that reduces the risk of injury to a person removing or replacing a
dumbbell.
[0011] It is another object of the invention to provide a saddle
for a dumbbell that reduces the chances of marring, scratching or
other damage over time.
[0012] It is a further object of the invention to provide a saddle
that will reduce the chances of rust on a saddle, rack and/or metal
dumbbell.
[0013] It is an additional object of the invention to provide a
saddle that is securely attached to a rack, preferably by multiple
attachment points, thereby preventing a saddle from rattling or
spinning and being in an improper orientation for receipt of a
dumbbell.
[0014] It is yet another object of the invention to provide a
saddle that reduces the exposure of a head of a means for
attachment of the saddle to a rack to air and moisture.
[0015] In accordance with these and other objects, the present
invention generally comprises an easy-to-manufacture protective
saddle for a dumbbell, comprising a generally U-shaped member,
having a curved element having a top surface, a base portion, and
an inner end, and a generally vertical element having an upper end
and an interior end attached to said inner end of the U-shaped
member, wherein a non-marring surface for providing contact with a
dumbbell to be placed on the saddle is located on said U-shaped
member. A plurality of means for attachment of the saddle to a
frame located in said base portion. The non-marring surface is
unitary in construction.
[0016] For the manufacture of the saddle, the surface is injection
molded or sprayed onto the U-Shaped member. The means for
attachment include an elongated attachment member located in a
complementary void in the base portion, and each attachment member
is adapted for use in a complementary cavity in said frame. The
means for attachment may preferably be securely connected to the
base portion.
[0017] The vertical member of the saddle has a divot for
accommodating a handle on said dumbbell. The surface may be a
material such as polyurethane, thermosetting plastic and/or virgin
rubber.
[0018] The method for forming the saddle comprises the steps of
forming a core having a generally U-shaped member, placing means
for attachment through the voids in the U-shaped member whereby
means for attachment extend below the base, and forming a
non-marring surface for providing contact with a dumbbell to be
placed on the saddle located at least on a top portion of the
U-shaped member and on the interior end of the vertical
element.
[0019] The step of forming comprises the steps of placing the core
at least partially within a mold and placing a substance which
forms a non-marring surface into the mold and around the core,
whereby at least a portion of the means for attachment is not
covered in the substance. The means for attachment are securely
connected to the base portion before the core is placed in a mold.
The means for attachment preferably comprise a threaded bolt. The
substance is preferred to be a rubber that adheres to the core.
[0020] The invention is also a frame for a plurality of dumbbells,
comprising a plurality of pairs of saddles oriented to accommodate
each weight on a dumbbell, each saddle comprising a generally
U-shaped member, wherein a non-marring surface for providing
contact with a dumbbell to be placed on the saddle is located on
said U-shaped member. The frame preferably further comprises a
plurality of means for attachment of the saddle to a frame located
in said base portion. Also, the frame comprises complementary holes
for means for attachment.
[0021] In accordance with these and other objects which will become
apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described
with particular reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0022] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the frame of the
invention.
[0023] FIG. 2 shows a cut away perspective view of the frame of the
invention.
[0024] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the saddle of the
invention before placement of a non-marring surface.
[0025] FIG. 4 shows a side plan view of the saddle of the invention
before placement of a non-marring surface.
[0026] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the saddle of the
invention with the means for attachment in place before placement
of a non-marring surface.
[0027] FIG. 6 shows a side plan view of the saddle of the invention
with the means for attachment in place before placement of a
non-marring surface.
[0028] FIG. 6A shows a top plan view of the saddle of the invention
with the means for attachment in place before placement of a
non-marring surface.
[0029] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the saddle of the
invention with the means for attachment in place after placement of
a non-marring surface.
[0030] FIG. 9 shows a top plan view of the saddle of the
invention.
[0031] FIG. 10 shows a side cutaway view of the saddle of the
invention through the vertical element.
[0032] FIG. 11 shows a side cutaway view of the saddle of the
invention through the curved element of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0033] With reference to the drawings, FIGS. 1-11 depict an easy to
manufacture protective saddle for a dumbbell generally depicted by
the numeral 10. Throughout the figures, like referenced characters
are used to indicate like elements. Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and
7, the saddle of the present invention is shown. The saddle
generally comprises a generally U-shaped member 12. The member 12
includes a curved element 13 having a top surface 15, a base
portion 16, and an inner end 17. The member also has a generally
vertical element 19 having an upper end 14 and an interior end 18
attached to said inner end 17 of the curved element 13. A
non-marring surface 28 for providing contact with a dumbbell (not
shown) to be placed on the saddle is on the outer surface of the
U-shaped member 12.
[0034] In the preferred embodiment, the saddle 10 also includes a
plurality of means for attachment of the saddle to a frame, shown
at element 24 in FIG. 5, located in the base portion 16. As shown,
two means for attachment are used, however, three or more means for
attachment are also contemplated.
[0035] It is preferred that the non-marring surface is unitary in
construction, and that the surface is injection molded onto the
U-Shaped member 10. However, the surface may alternatively be
sprayed upon the U-shaped member or placed on the surface by other
equivalent means.
[0036] It is also preferred that the means for attachment 24
comprise an elongated attachment member as shown in FIG. 5. The
elongated member is placed in a complementary void 22 in said base
portion 16. The attachment members are preferably adapted for use
in a complementary cavity in a frame, shown generally as reference
number 100 in FIG. 1. The means for attachment is preferably a
threaded bolt having a head 26 preventing the bolt from massing
through the corresponding void 22. The bolt may be securely
connected to the base portion by means such as welding or an
adhesive. In yet another alternative embodiment, the means for
attachment to a frame are made an intrinsic part of the base and
may be formes simultaneously with the base.
[0037] The bolt may be attached to the frame with a nut, the use of
a locking washer would prevent inadvertent disconnection of the
saddle 10 from the frame 100.
[0038] As shown in the accompanying figures, it is also preferred
that the vertical element 19 further comprises a divot 20 for
accommodating a handle on a dumbbell.
[0039] The preferred non-marring surface is polyurethane, and the
curved element and the vertical element are preferably stainless
steel or another strong, chemically resistive material.
[0040] The preferred method for forming the saddle 10 comprises the
following steps. First, the step of forming the U-shaped member
core is taken. The core includes the curved element having a top
surface, a base portion, and an inner end and the generally
vertical element having an upper end and an interior end attached
to said inner end of the U-shaped member described above. The
curved element and the vertical element may be fabricated together
or they may be made separately and attached through welding,
adhesives or other equivalent means.
[0041] A plurality of voids is then formed through the base
portion. The voids may be pre-formed with the core or may be
drilled through the base portion after the core is formed. Means
for attachment are then placed through the voids whereby means for
attachment extend below the base.
[0042] A non-marring surface for providing contact with a dumbbell
to be placed on the saddle located is then formed at least on a top
portion of the U-shaped member and on the interior end of the
vertical element.
[0043] Preferably, the step of forming the non-marring surface
comprises the steps of placing the core at least partially within a
mold and placing a substance which forms a non-marring surface into
the mold and around the core, whereby at least a portion of the
means for attachment is not covered in the substance. It is
preferred that the means for attachment are securely connected to
the base portion before the core is placed in a mold for placing
rubber or plastic over the core. The addition of rubber or plastic
in the mold may sufficiently secure the means for attachment for
the purposes of the invention. The preferred rubber is virgin
rubber or its equivalent. One plastic that may be used is a
thermosetting plastic or its equivalent.
[0044] In the preferred method of placing the non-marring surface
over the core, the saddle is preferably placed in a mold so that
the means for attachment are at least partially outside the mold.
Thus, the entire core is covered with the non-marring material. It
is preferred that a rubber able to adhere to the core is placed in
the mold; however, plastic may also be used. In the preferred
embodiment, at least those portions of the core likely to touch a
dumbbell are covered by the non-marring surface. Also, it is
preferred that the non-marring surface is generally rounded to
conform with the shape of a dumbbell placed in it. As shown in FIG.
2, depressions 30 may be formed in the non-marring surface to ease
removal of the saddle from the mold. Thus, in the preferred
embodiment, when the core is released from the mold, rubber is
encased over the saddle leaving the top of the bolts encased and
the threads exposed for attaching to the rack.
[0045] The means for attachment are preferred to be a threaded
bolt; however, other means for attachment, such as clamps and clips
or the equivalent may also be used.
[0046] Moreover, the saddles may be placed in complementary pairs
on a frame 100 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In the preferred
embodiment, each saddle 10 of a complementary pair is placed on a
separate rail 32 of the frame 16. Several saddle pairs are
preferably placed side by side. The frame 100 also preferably
includes leggings 34 so that two or more tiers of rails 32 may be
used on a frame.
[0047] A nut, preferably with a locking washer, is used on each
means for attachment. The multiple means for attachment on each
saddle decrease the chances of the saddle rattling on the frame.
The fact that the means for attachment are placed on the saddle so
that no portion of the means for attachment touches the dumbbell
when properly placed in the saddle reduces the chances of
scratching the dumbbell. Furthermore, the fact that the means for
attachment is covered by the non-marring surface reduces the chance
of oxidation of the means for attachment as well as the base
portion of the saddle.
[0048] Although a frame having one side of layered rails is shown
in FIG. 1, other orientations, such as triangular or round
configurations are also contemplated herein.
[0049] Thus, the invention further comprises an easy-to-manufacture
frame for a plurality of dumbbells, including a plurality of pairs
of saddles oriented to accommodate each weight on a dumbbell. Each
saddle comprises a generally U-shaped member, including a curved
element having a top surface, a base portion, and an inner end and
a vertical element having an upper end and an interior end attached
to said inner end of the U-shaped member. A non-marring surface for
providing contact with a dumbbell to be placed on the saddle is
located on the U-shaped member.
[0050] The frame may preferably further comprise a plurality of
means for attachment of the saddle to a frame located in said base
portion. Also, each saddle preferably comprises a plurality of
means for attachment located at said base portion.
[0051] The instant invention has been shown and described herein in
what is considered to be the most practical and preferred
embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made
therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious
modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.
* * * * *