Variable Weight Exerciser

Abstract

A variable weight exerciser which has a primary elongated bar and one or more secondary elongated bars of lesser width than the primary bar. The primary bar is adapted for insertion of the secondary elongated bars and an end cap is provided for securing the secondary bars within the primary bar.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to exercise apparatus and more particularly to variable weight exercise apparatus.

2. Description of the Prior Art

It is well known in the art to provide variable weight exercise apparatus. In the area to which this invention pertains, the most common form of variable weight exercise apparatus, or merely exerciser, consists of a bar which is adapted to have a plurality of weights inserted over each end thereof. The bar itself generally weighs from 5 to 10 pounds and the weights, ranging from 21/2 to 25 pounds each, are placed equally on either end of the bar and secured thereto by some means of lock nut. There are, however, several disadvantages to this type of apparatus. Since for light weights the bar itself is an important part of the weight of the exerciser, the user must grasp the bar at equal points from either end so as to achieve a proper balance. Thus, it is obvious, that the weights must also be spaced equally from either end in order to maintain this proper balance. While it is possible to keep the weights spaced from one another by a sleeve placed over the central portion of the bar, nonetheless it is very difficult to judge the exact placement of the weights so as to enable the bar to be balanced around the center thereof. In addition, since the weights are secured by some type of lock nuts, repeated use of the exerciser results in the loosening of such nuts and the weights have a pronounced tendency to move and even to slip off the end of the bar, thereby causing danger to the user both from muscular strain and from falling weights. In addition, because the mass of the weights are focused at a particular point from each end, it is impossible to use the exerciser in other than a horizontal position; any use of the exerciser other than in the horizontal position greatly magnifies the strain upon the muscles of the user and the danger of the weights slipping off the end of the bar.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a variable weight exerciser which avoids the balance and weight slippage deficiencies of the prior art exercisers.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a variable weight exerciser in which the additional weights are uniformly and continuously distributed along the length of the exerciser.

Another object of the invention is to provide a variable weight exerciser in which it is impossible for the additional weights to move from their set positions.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a variable weight exerciser which can be used in any position or attitude, especially in a vertical position.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a variable weight exerciser is provided which has a primary elongated bar which has a series of longitudinal bores, or holes, therein spaced radially equally from the center. A plurality of secondary elongated bars are provided which are of slightly lesser length than the primary elongated bar and which are adapted for placement in such said elongated bores. In use, the secondary elongated bars are usually placed in the primary elongated bar in balanced pairs and then an end cap is fitted onto the end of the primary elongated bar to firmly secure them in place.

The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention will best be understood from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 taken along line 1A--1A;

FIG. 1B is an end view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 taken along line 1B--1B;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2A is an end view of the embodiment of FIG. 2 taken along line 2A--2A;

FIG. 2B is an end view of the embodiment of FIG. 2 taken along line 2B--2B;

FIG. 3 illustrates a method of using the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In FIG. 1, a first embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. An elongated primary bar 10 is provided which has a series of holes 12 bored nearly the entire length thereof and into which a plurality of secondary bars 14 can be inserted. The bar 10 has a rod 16 fixed at one end thereof which rod 16 is partially threaded so as to be able to receive an end cap 18 which is screwed thereon by a cap wrench 20. The bar 10 is recessed at the end thereof so that the end cap 18, when screwed on, is flush with the edge of the bar 10. The holes 12 do not extend the entire length of the bar 10 so that when the bars 14 are inserted and the end cap 18 is screwed on the bars 14 are firmly secured within the bar 10. As shown in FIG. 1A, the holes 12 are spaced around the circumferential edge of the bar 10 in an even number and are equally radially spaced from the center thereof, so that if the bars 14 are inserted in pairs having an opposing relationship to one another at least a portion of the transverse balance of the bar 10 is retained. Since, however, the bars 14 extend nearly the entire length of the bar 10, the longitudinal balance of the exerciser is always retained. As can be seen in FIG. 1B, the other end of the bar 10 has a hole 22 therein, which hole 22 is adapted to receive the rod 16 of a like bar 10 so that two of said bars 10 may be loosely joined to one another. Thus an exerciser is provided which is variable in weight, which retains its longitudinal balance no matter what attitude or position it is placed in, and from which it is impossible for the weights to fall.

In one actual model of the exerciser, the bar 10 was 18 inches long and 21/2 inches in diameter and weighed 11/2 pounds. The bars 14 were 171/4 inches long, three-eighths inch in diameter, and weighed one-half of a pound each. The bar 10 had six holes bored therein so that the exerciser was variable in weight from 11/2 pounds to 41/2 pounds. The rod 16 was 11/4 inches long and one-half inch in diameter and the hole 22 was 13/8 inches deep. Finally, the end cap 18 was approximately 2 inches in diameter and one-eighth inch thick, with the bar 10 being recessed one-eighth inch so as to make the end cap 18 flush with the end thereof. The holes 12 were bored to within approximately one-half inch of the end of the bar 10 so that there would be a snug fit after the bars 14 were inserted. While in the particular embodiment the bar 10 was made out of wood and the bars 14 were made out of steel, it is clear that the bar 10 could be made out of steel or aluminum or some other metal, or that the entire exerciser could be made out of a dense plastic.

In FIG. 2, a second embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. In this embodiment, the exerciser is constructed from a sleeve 24 which is approximately 18 inches long and 2 inches in diameter with a wall thickness of one-fourth inch. One end of the sleeve 24 is open while the other end is closed but with a small hole 25 in the center thereof approximately one-half inch in diameter. A second primary bar 26 approximately 173/8 inches long and 2 inches in diameter is provided which has a series of longitudinal grooves 28 therein. The longitudinal grooves 28 may be formed initially when the bar 26 is formed, as by a casting process, or maybe routed out from a bar 26 having an initial smooth surface. The bar 26 has a rod 30 protruding from one end thereof and a hole 32 in the center of the other end thereof. The rod 30 is threaded to receive an end cap such as end cap 18 and the hole 32 is threaded so that a rod 30 from a similar exerciser may be screwed therein. The bar 26 is inserted inside the sleeve 24 and bonded thereto so as to form a structure such as the bar 10 in FIG. 1. In FIG. 2A, a plurality of holes 34 are shown which extend longitudinally along the exerciser and which are formed by the walls of the grooves 28 and the inner surface of the sleeve 24. The longitudinal holes 34 are sized so that a plurality of bars such as bars 14 may be inserted therein to variably weight the exerciser. In FIG. 2B, the hole 25 in the end of sleeve 24 is shown through which rod 30 may be inserted to be screwed into hole 32. Thus a plurality of exercisers may be firmly joined together to provide additional length and weight or, as shown in FIG. 1, may be loosely joined for quick removal and insertion required in the use illustrated hereafter.

In FIG. 3 a use of the present invention in accordance with the teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 3,350,811, issued Nov. 7, 1967, to the present inventor, entitled ROTATABLE TOY ON A SECTIONAL SHAFT, is illustrated. In this use, two bars 10 and 10' are placed on the top of one another with the rod 16' inserted into the hole 22. Each of the bars 10, 10' has a helical groove 36 formed therein along which a rotor 38 having a tooth 40 can travel under the force of gravity. As described in the aforementioned patent, when the rotor 38 leaves the bar 10 and travels onto the bar 10', the bar 10 is then disengaged from the bar 10' and is placed below the bar 10' with the rod 16 being inserted into the hole 22' before the rotor 38 reaches the bar 10. It is easily seen that the quick removal of one bar from the other (the bar not containing the rotor) and the placing and aligning of that bar below the bar containing the rotor insures the continuous movement of the rotor down the successive bars. While previously this device was thought of merely as a child's toy, it has been found that by weighting the bars 10, 10' and by providing additional weights by means of the bars 14 the device becomes an excellent exerciser for strengthening the muscles of the arms and shoulders, as well as developing the coordination of the user.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated herein, it is recognized that modifications and variations may readily occur to those skilled in the art and, consequently, it is intended that the claims be interpreted to cover such modifications and equivalents.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A variable weight exerciser comprising:

a primary elongated bar;

one or more substantially straight secondary elongated bars of lesser width than said primary elongated bar for insertion in and withdrawal from said primary elongated bar, said primary bar being adapted to receive therein one or more of said secondary bars; and

means operable for securing said secondary bars inserted within said primary bar and for permitting the withdrawal of said secondary bars inserted within said primary bar.

2. The exerciser of claim 1 wherein the width of said secondary bars is less than half the width of said primary bar and said primary bar is adapted to receive therein one or more pairs of said secondary bars in an opposing relationship to retain at least a portion of the transverse balance of said primary bar.

3. The exerciser of claim 1 wherein said primary bar has a plurality of holes formed therein, each hole extending longitudinally along the length of said primary bar, to receive said secondary bars and said secondary bars are substantially immobile with respect to said primary bar when secured therein.

4. The exerciser of Claim 1 wherein said means for securing said secondary bars includes a rod extending from the end of said exerciser and having at least a portion thereof threaded, and an end cap adapted to be threaded on said rod and operable for preventing the withdrawal of said secondary bars.

5. The exerciser of claim 4 wherein said end cap is of lesser diameter than said exerciser and the end of said exerciser is recessed to receive said end cap.

6. The exerciser of claim 4 wherein said exerciser has a hole in the end thereof opposite said rod and compatible with said rod, and said rod extends beyond said end cap whereby a plurality of said exercisers may be loosely joined to one another.

7. The exerciser of claim 6 wherein said rod has threads that extend beyond said end cap and said hole is threaded and compatible with said rod, whereby a plurality of said exercisers may be firmly joined to one another.

8. The exerciser of claim 1 wherein said primary bar has a formed surface thereon for causing a rotor to rotate along at least a portion of the length thereof under the force of gravity.

9. The exerciser of claim 1 wherein said primary bar has a plurality of holes formed therein and equally radially spaced from the center thereof, each hole extending longitudinally along the length of said primary bar.

10. A variable weight exerciser comprising:

a primary elongated bar;

one or more substantially straight secondary elongated bars of lesser width than and substantially equal in length to said primary elongated bar, said primary bar being adapted to receive therein one or more of said secondary bars; and

means for removably securing said secondary bars within said primary bar.

11. A variable weight exerciser comprising:

a primary elongated bar;

a second primary bar substantially equal in length to said primary bar and having a plurality of longitudinal grooves formed in the outer periphery thereof, said primary bar being adapted to receive said second primary bar therein and to form in conjunction with said second primary bar a plurality of longitudinal holes;

one or more secondary elongated bars adapted for insertion into said longitudinal holes; and

means for securing said secondary bars within said longitudinal holes.