U.S. patent application number 13/447679 was filed with the patent office on 2012-08-16 for dumbbell with antimicrobial handle.
This patent application is currently assigned to Grace Premier Fitness And Wellness Products, Inc.. Invention is credited to Karl Anderson.
Application Number | 20120208681 13/447679 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44151899 |
Filed Date | 2012-08-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120208681 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Anderson; Karl |
August 16, 2012 |
Dumbbell With Antimicrobial Handle
Abstract
A dumbbell having an antimicrobial handle comprises a bar having
a pair of end regions, and extending generally longitudinally
therebetween along a generally central axis, weight plate masses
mounted at the end regions and mechanically secured thereto, and a
pair of collars located at longitudinally opposed positions on bar
to define a handle region therebetween. A handle is located within
the handle region and includes a generally tubular supporting
substrate positioned about the bar, and a generally tubular grip
surface member supported by the substrate and formed from an
antimicrobial copper alloy, the supporting substrate and generally
tubular grip surface member extending generally axially between
longitudinally spaced-apart end regions. The collars have
axially-inwardly extending flange portions sized and structured to
substantially circumscribe the end regions of the grip surface
member and to securely capture the end regions between the flange
portions and the bar.
Inventors: |
Anderson; Karl; (Glendora,
CA) |
Assignee: |
Grace Premier Fitness And Wellness
Products, Inc.
Vancouver
WA
Ace Specialty Inc.
Rosemead
CA
|
Family ID: |
44151899 |
Appl. No.: |
13/447679 |
Filed: |
April 16, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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12646252 |
Dec 23, 2009 |
8172734 |
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13447679 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
482/108 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 21/072 20130101;
A63B 21/4035 20151001; A63B 21/0726 20130101; A63B 2209/00
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/108 |
International
Class: |
A63B 21/072 20060101
A63B021/072 |
Claims
1. A dumbbell comprising: a bar having a pair of end regions, and
extending generally longitudinally therebetween along a generally
central axis; weight plate masses mounted at the end regions and
mechanically secured thereto; and a pair of generally annular
collars located at longitudinally opposed positions on bar to
define a handle region therebetween, a handle being located within
the handle region and including a generally tubular supporting
substrate positioned about the bar, and a generally tubular grip
surface member supported by the substrate and formed from an
antimicrobial copper alloy, the supporting substrate and generally
tubular grip surface member extending between respective end
regions, the pair of longitudinally-spaced generally annular
collars having axially-inwardly extending flange portions sized and
structured to substantially circumscribe the end regions of the
generally cylindrical grip surface and to securely capture the end
regions between the flange portions and the bar.
2. The dumbbell of claim 1 wherein the grip surface member and the
supporting substrate extend between respective pairs of end
regions, and the flange portions are sized and structured to
substantially circumscribe the end regions of the supporting
substrate and grip surface member to securely capture said end
regions between the flange portions and the bar.
3. The dumbbell of claim 2 the axially-inward extending flange
portions are sized and structured to securely compress said end
regions between the flange portions and the bar.
4. The dumbbell of claim 2 wherein said end regions are captured
between the flange portions and the bar via a diameter-reduction
operation imposed on the flange regions.
5. The dumbbell of claim 1 wherein the end regions of the
supporting substrate are flared to capture the grip surface member
therebetween.
6. A dumbbell comprising: a bar having a pair of end regions, and
extending generally longitudinally therebetween along a generally
central axis; weight plate masses mounted at the end regions and
mechanically secured thereto; and a pair of generally annular
collars located at longitudinally opposed positions on bar to
define a handle region therebetween, a handle being located within
the handle region and including a generally tubular supporting
substrate positioned about the bar, and a generally tubular grip
surface member supported by the substrate and formed from an
antimicrobial copper alloy, the supporting substrate and generally
tubular grip surface member extending between respective end
regions, the end regions of the supporting substrate being flared
to securely capture the generally tubular grip surface
therebetween.
Description
PRIORITY CLAIM
[0001] This is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
12/646,252 filed Dec. 23, 2009, the priority of which is
claimed.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention pertains to exercise apparatus of the
strength-training type employing a source of resistance against a
user's exercise movement, a handle gripped by the user during the
exercise movement, and means coupling the handle to the resistance
source for permitting the user's exercise movement to be resisted
by the source.
[0003] Examples of such equipment are barbells, dumbbells,
kettlebells and strength-training machines. The term "strength
training machines", as used herein, means machines employing a
source of resistance against a user's exercise movement, a handle
gripped by the user during the exercise movement, and means
coupling the handle to the resistance source for permitting the
user's exercise movement to be resisted by the source (the handle
and coupling means being collectively referred to as a "cable
attachment"). Examples include machines that utilize adjustable
stacks of weight plates as a resistance source such as the popular
Nautilus.RTM. machine, machines which utilize flexible rods or
straps coiled around a cam to provide resistance in lieu of weight
plates, such as the popular Bowflex.RTM. machines, and machines
using hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders to provide resistance to
such movement.
[0004] For the sake of brevity, the term "weight plate device" as
used throughout shall refer, individually and collectively, to
dumbbells, bar bells and kettlebells. The term "dumbbell" as used
throughout shall refer, individually and collectively, to dumbbells
and barbells.
[0005] As is known to those of ordinary skill in the art, dumbbells
(with the exception of kettlebells) comprise a bar that extends
generally axially between opposing end regions, a weight plate mass
mounted about the bar at each end region, means for retaining the
mounted weight plate masses at the respective end regions to define
a handle region axially inward of the weight plate masses that can
be gripped by a user during exercise movement of the dumbbell, and
means for securing the weight plate masses to the dumbbell. A
kettlebell is a weight having a typical appearance akin to a
cannonball with an affixed handle, although other shapes are known
in the art as well.
[0006] Fitness facilities are often faced with outbreaks of
dangerous and potentially deadly staph and MSRA infections.
Outbreaks in high school and college locker rooms, professional
sports training facilities and physical therapy centers have been
documented. Fitness equipment such as dumbbell handles and the
gripping surfaces of strength-training machines provide ideal
breeding grounds for harmful bacteria that can easily spread among
users, particularly since they often neglect to clean equipment
after use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Exercise apparatus of the strength-training type comprises a
source of resistance against a user's exercise movement, a handle
gripped by the user for movement during the exercise movement, and
means coupling the handle to the resistance source to permit the
user's exercise movement to be resisted by the source. The handle
is formed with an outer antimicrobial copper gripping surface
positioned to be gripped by the user during the exercise
movement.
[0008] These and further details of the invention will be apparent
to those of ordinary skill in the art from reading a description of
the preferred embodiment of the invention described below, and of
which the drawing forms a part.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a front elevation view showing a dumbbell
constructed in accordance with the invention herein; and
[0010] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view in schematic of a
bar and handle for the dumbbell of FIG. 1 constructed in accordance
with the invention;
[0011] FIG. 3 is an alternative handle for the dumbbell of FIG. 1
constructed in accordance with the invention; and
[0012] FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a cable attachment for
a strength-training machine constructed in accordance with the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] FIG. 1 is a front elevation view showing a dumbbell
constructed in accordance with the invention herein.
[0014] The illustrated dumbbell 10 has, by way of example, weight
plate masses in the form of a pair of generally annular weight
plates 12 mounted in the conventional manner at opposite end
regions of a longitudinally-extending bar 14 and mechanically
secured thereto in the conventional manner as, for example, as by
press fitting the plates onto the bar and/or welding or bolting
them in place. (The weight plate mass at the right end region has
not been illustrated in FIG. 1 in order to better illustrate the
bar 14.) The weight plates 12 abut respective collars 11 which are
located at longitudinally opposed positions on bar 14 to define a
handle region 13 therebetween that is gripped by the user.
[0015] The handle 13 has an outer grip surface 16 formed from an
antimicrobial copper alloy, preferably a cuprous nickel alloy
containing approximately 80% copper and 18-20% nickel. Copper kills
more than 99.9% of bacteria within 2 hours of exposure, and
continues killing more than 99.9% even after repeated
contamination. Testing has demonstrated copper's effectiveness
against such viruses as staphylococcus aureus, enterobacter
aerogenes, Escherichia coli 0157:H7, pseudomonas aeruginosa and
methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MSRA). Copper,
however, is a soft metal that cannot withstand the forces that come
to bear when strength-training forces are applied to the handle of
dumbbells, kettlebells and other s exercise apparatus of the
strength-training type.
[0016] The preferred cuprous nickel alloy described above does not
tarnish, and thereby maintains an attractive appearance as well as
an effective microbe-killing functionality. However, the bar on
which the weight plate mass is mounted is typically steel, and one
cannot weld copper to steel.
[0017] In accordance with the invention, the preferred bar 14 is
formed from steel and has a 1.25 inch outer diameter that has been
turned down to 1 inch, except within the handle region 13, thereby
creating (as shown schematically in FIG. 2) a pair of shoulders 17,
18 at the interfaces. A preferred cuprous nickel tube 16 having a
1.375 inch (35 mm) outer diameter ("O.D.") and a 1.250 inch (31.75
mm) internal diameter ("I.D.) is slid over the handle region of the
bar. A pair of generally annular collars 11 preferably formed from
antimicrobial brass or copper, and more preferably from the same
alloy as the tube 16, are slid onto the bar 14 from respective ends
of the bar. The collars have respective axially-inward facing
flange portions 17a which are sized to circumscribe the end regions
of the cuprous nickel tube. The collars are slid axially inward
along the bar from the respective ends of the bar until the flange
portions circumscribe the end regions of the cuprous nickel tube.
The flange portions 17a are structured to be diametrically reduced,
as by crimping or similar methodology, to securely press fit the
collar (and the relatively soft cuprous nickel underlying the
flange portions) against the bar 14, resulting in an antimicrobial
handle that resists bending when the dumbbell is in use. Those
skilled in the art will recognize that means other than press
fitting the collars on the bar could be used (e.g., glue), although
these alternatives are not viewed as favorably.
[0018] Those skilled in the art will also recognize that the steel
bar 14 could be tubular rather than solid steel. Further, as
illustrated in FIG. 3, a tubular bar 24 can alternatively be flared
outward (as at 26) to secure the cuprous nickel tube 25 against
axial movement within the outwardly flared ends 26.
[0019] In addition, the handle can be permitted to rotate about the
bar's central axis 28 in order to reduce or eliminate any
rotational handle torque otherwise experienced by a user as the
handle is gripped during certain exercise movements. Rotational
movement can be permitted, for example, by placing the bar within a
steel tube that forms a substrate for the antimicrobial grip
surface, providing one or more bearings or bearing surfaces between
the steel tube and bar to permit substantially friction-free
rotation of the steel tube (and antimicrobial copper tube affixed
thereabout) about the shaft, and mounting the weight plate masses
on the axially outward end regions of the shaft.
[0020] Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that
kettlebells and strength training machines can be produced with the
handles described above. In the case of the kettlebell, the handle
is affixed to the weight.
[0021] In the case of a strength training machine, the handle is
mechanically coupled to the source of resistance via a cable or
other structure coupled to the handle. FIG. 4 is a schematic
illustration of a handle for a strength-training machine
constructed in accordance with the invention. The illustrated
machine is of the type employing an adjustable stack of weight
plates as a resistance source. The adjustable stack of weight
plates 70 is lifted by a user who is pulling them upward by handle
16 coupled to the weight plate stack via a strap or cable 72 that
extends over a pulley 71. The stack of weight plates is guided by
guide rods 73, which guide the stack's movement vertically, and
keep the plates evenly stacked as they move.
[0022] The handle 16 is preferably constructed as previously
described in this Detailed
[0023] Description, and is typically coupled to the cable via a
yoke 74 and typically permitted to rotate about a central axis 76
by means of one or more bearing structures that couple the handle
to the yoke. One effective arrangement is the use of a tubular
nylon bushing underlying the antimicrobial copper alloy tube as an
interface between the (rotatable) alloy tube and a non-rotating
shaft, bolted or otherwise affixed to the yoke, to provide a low
friction means for permitting the rotation. Other bearing
arrangements are well known in the art.
[0024] Although the present invention and its advantages have been
described in detail, it should be understood that various changes,
substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention as will be defined by
appended claims.
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