Weight set selector and locking mechanism

Abstract

A selectable weight set apparatus includes a handle assembly including a handle having a first end portion and a second end portion opposite the first end portion. A first weight set is adapted to be supported on the first end portion of the handle and a second weight set is adapted to be supported on the second end portion of the handle. Each of the first and second weight sets includes a plurality of weight plates. An adjustment assembly selects a number of weight plates to be retained to the handle assembly. The adjustment assembly includes at least one selector for movement relative to at least one of the first and second weight sets to engage and select the weight plates in said at least one of the first and second weight sets. A locking assembly fixes the selector relative to said at least one of the first and second weight sets.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A selectable weight set apparatus comprising:
 a handle assembly comprising a handle having a first end portion and a second end portion opposite the first end portion; 
 a first weight set adapted to be supported on the first end portion of the handle and a second weight set adapted to be supported on the second end portion of the handle, each of the first and second weight sets comprising a plurality of weight plates; 
 an adjustment assembly for selecting a number of weight plates to be retained to the handle assembly, the adjustment assembly comprising at least one selector for movement relative to at least one of the first and second weight sets to engage and select the weight plates in said at least one of the first and second weight sets; and 
 a locking assembly for fixing the at least one selector relative to said at least one of the first and second weight sets, the locking assembly comprising a first locking element and a plurality of second locking elements, the first locking element being configured for releasable engagement with the at least one selector and one of the plurality of second locking elements on the at least one selector after the at least one selector is moved to engage and select the weight plates in said at least one of the first and second weight sets; 
 wherein the adjustment assembly further comprises a selector element fixed to the first locking element and operatively connected to the at least one selector for moving the at least one selector to retain a selected number of weight plates, movement of the selector element to advance the at least one selector to a selected weight plate aligning the first locking element with a second locking element associated with the selected weight plate; and 
 wherein the adjustment assembly further comprises at least one gear assembly for moving the at least one selector to engage and select the weight plates in said at least one of the first and second weight sets, the gear assembly engaging the at least one selector at a first location and the first locking element engaging the at least one selector at a second location different from the first location. 
 
     
     
       2. The selectable weight set apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the first and second locations are on opposite lateral sides of the at least one selector to restrict transverse movement of the at least one selector. 
     
     
       3. The selectable weight set apparatus as set forth in  claim 2  wherein the first locking element comprises a rod member and the second locking element comprising a plurality of recesses formed in the at least one selector, a longitudinal engagement surface of the rod member being receivable in one of the recesses to restrict longitudinal movement of the at least one selector. 
     
     
       4. The selectable weight set apparatus as set forth in  claim 3  wherein the recesses are spaced longitudinally along a length of the at least one selector. 
     
     
       5. The selectable weight set apparatus as set forth in  claim 4  wherein the at least one selector is a selector shaft moveable through selector holes in the weight plates. 
     
     
       6. The adjustable weight set apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein substantially vertical movement of the first locking element engages and disengages the first locking element with second locking elements on the at least one selector. 
     
     
       7. The selectable weight set apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the locking assembly further comprises a retaining member slidably mounted on the handle assembly for selectively placing the locking assembly in locked and unlocked configurations. 
     
     
       8. The selectable weight set apparatus as set forth in  claim 7  wherein the first locking element includes a shoulder and the retaining member is adapted to engage the shoulder of the first locking element to retain the locking assembly in the locked configuration. 
     
     
       9. The selectable weight set apparatus as set forth in  claim 8  wherein the first locking element comprises a tubular portion and a conical portion around the tubular portion, the conical portion defining the shoulder of the first locking element. 
     
     
       10. The selectable weight set apparatus as set forth in  claim 9  wherein the retaining member comprises a locking portion having an opening receiving the first locking element therethrough, the shoulder of the first locking element opposing a bottom surface of the locking portion when the locking assembly is in the locked configuration. 
     
     
       11. The selectable weight set apparatus as set forth in  claim 8  wherein the retaining member is slidable to disengage the retaining member from the shoulder of the first locking element for placing the locking assembly in the unlocked configuration. 
     
     
       12. The selectable weight set apparatus as set forth in  claim 8  wherein the first locking element is biased toward a position corresponding to the unlocked configuration of the locking assembly. 
     
     
       13. The selectable weight set apparatus as set forth in  claim 12  wherein the retaining member is biased toward a position corresponding to the locked configuration of the locking assembly. 
     
     
       14. The selectable weight set apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising a rotatable selector element including weight plate indicia, wherein selector element is operatively connected to the at least one selector by the at least one gear assembly for moving the at least one selector to engage and select the weight plates in said at least one of the first and second weight sets, a single weight plate indicia corresponds to a weight plate such that one full rotation of the selector element retains every weight plate in said at least one of the first and second weight sets. 
     
     
       15. A handle assembly for a selectable weight set apparatus comprising:
 a handle for supporting a plurality of weight plates; 
 an adjustment assembly associated with the handle for selecting a number of weight plates to be retained to the handle, the adjustment assembly comprising at least one selector for movement relative to the handle to engage and select the weight plates to be retained to the handle, the selector having a length; and 
 a locking assembly for fixing the at least one selector relative to the handle, the locking assembly comprising a first locking element and a plurality of recesses on the at least one selector, the first locking element being configured for releasable engagement with the at least one selector and one of the plurality of recesses on the at least one selector to place the locking assembly in locked and unlocked configurations, each recess of the plurality of recesses defining a longitudinal axis extending transverse to the length of the selector, the first locking element being movable along the longitudinal axes of the plurality of recesses to place the locking assembly in the locked and unlocked configurations; 
 wherein the adjustment assembly further comprises a selector element fixed to the first locking element and operatively connected to the at least one selector for moving the at least one selector to retain a selected number of weight plates. 
 
     
     
       16. A handle assembly for a selectable weight set apparatus comprising:
 a handle for supporting a plurality of weight plates; 
 an adjustment assembly associated with the handle for selecting a number of weight plates to be retained to the handle, the adjustment assembly comprising at least one selector shaft for movement lengthwise of the at least one selector shaft relative to the handle to engage and select the weight plates to be retained to the handle; and 
 a locking assembly for fixing the at least one selector shaft relative to the handle, the locking assembly comprising an actuator shaft and a plurality of locking structures on the at least one selector shaft, the actuator shaft being linearly movable relative to the at least one selector shaft to engage and disengage the locking structures on the at least one selector shaft to place the locking assembly in locked and unlocked configurations; 
 wherein the actuator shaft is operatively connected to the at least one selector shaft to drive movement of the at least one selector shaft to retain a selected number of weight plates. 
 
     
     
       17. A selectable weight set apparatus comprising:
 a handle assembly comprising a handle having a first end portion and a second end portion opposite the first end portion;   a first weight set adapted to be supported on the first end portion of the handle and a second weight set adapted to be supported on the second end portion of the handle, each of the first and second weight sets comprising a plurality of weight plates;   an adjustment assembly for selecting a number of weight plates to be retained to the handle assembly, the adjustment assembly comprising at least one selector for movement relative to at least one of the first and second weight sets to engage and select the weight plates in said at least one of the first and second weight sets;   a locking assembly for fixing the at least one selector relative to said at least one of the first and second weight sets, the locking assembly comprising a first locking element and a plurality of second locking elements, the first locking element being configured for releasable engagement with the at least one selector and one of the plurality of second locking elements on the at least one selector after the at least one selector is moved to engage and select the weight plates in said at least one of the first and second weight sets;   wherein the adjustment assembly further comprises a selector element operatively connected to the at least one selector for moving the at least one selector to retain a selected number of weight plates, wherein movement of the selector element from a first selector element position to a second selector element position causes movement of the selector from a first selector position to a second selector position, wherein movement of the selector element to advance the at least one selector to a selected weight plate aligns the first locking element with a second locking element associated with the selected weight plate, wherein the adjustment assembly and the locking assembly are adapted and configured to prevent, when the first locking element is engaged with any of the plurality of second locking elements, movement of the selector element from the first selector element position to the second selector element position and movement of the selector from the first selector position to the second selector position, wherein the adjustment assembly and the locking assembly are adapted and configured to allow, when the first locking element is disengaged with the plurality of second locking elements, movement of the selector element from the first selector element position to the second selector element position and movement of the selector from the first selector position to the second selector position; and   wherein the adjustment assembly further comprises at least one gear assembly for moving the at least one selector to engage and select the weight plates in said at least one of the first and second weight sets, the gear assembly engaging the at least one selector at a first location and the first locking element engaging the at least one selector at a second location different from the first location.   
     
     
       18. The selectable weight set apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein the first and second locations are on opposite lateral sides of the at least one selector to restrict transverse movement of the at least one selector. 
     
     
       19. The selectable weight set apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein the first locking element comprises a rod member and the second locking element comprising a plurality of recesses formed in the at least one selector, a longitudinal engagement surface of the rod member being receivable in one of the recesses to restrict longitudinal movement of the at least one selector. 
     
     
       20. The selectable weight set apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein the recesses are spaced longitudinally along a length of the at least one selector. 
     
     
       21. The selectable weight set apparatus as set forth in claim 20 wherein the at least one selector is a selector shaft moveable through selector holes in the weight plates. 
     
     
       22. The selectable weight set apparatus as set forth in claim 21 wherein the selector element is operatively connected to the at least one gear assembly in a manner such that movement of the selector element from the first selector element position to the second selector element position causes turning of the gear assembly and movement of the selector shaft from the first selector position to the second selector position, and such that turning of the selector element from the second element position to the first selector element position causes turning of the gear assembly and movement of the selector shaft from the second selector position to the first selector position. 
     
     
       23. The selectable weight set apparatus as set forth in claim 21 wherein the selector shaft includes a plurality of gear teeth at the first location, and wherein the at least one gear assembly comprises a selector element gear and a gear train, the selector element gear being operatively connected to the selector element in a manner such that the selector element gear moves with the selector element, the gear train comprising a plurality of gears, a first one of the plurality of gears having gear teeth meshing with the gear teeth of the selector element gear and a second one of the plurality of gears having gear teeth meshing with the gear teeth of the selector shaft, the gear train being adapted and configured such that movement of the selector element from the first selector element position to the second selector element position moves the selector shaft from the first selector position to the second selector position. 
     
     
       24. The selectable weight set apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein substantially vertical movement of the first locking element engages and disengages the first locking element with second locking elements on the at least one selector. 
     
     
       25. The selectable weight set apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein the locking assembly further comprises a retaining member slidably mounted on the handle assembly for selectively placing the locking assembly in locked and unlocked configurations. 
     
     
       26. The selectable weight set apparatus as set forth in claim 25 wherein the first locking element includes a shoulder and the retaining member is adapted to engage the shoulder of the first locking element to retain the locking assembly in the locked configuration. 
     
     
       27. The selectable weight set apparatus as set forth in claim 26 wherein the first locking element comprises a tubular portion and a conical portion around the tubular portion, the conical portion defining the shoulder of the first locking element. 
     
     
       28. The selectable weight set apparatus as set forth in claim 27 wherein the retaining member comprises a locking portion having an opening receiving the first locking element therethrough, the shoulder of the first locking element opposing a bottom surface of the locking portion when the locking assembly is in the locked configuration. 
     
     
       29. The selectable weight set apparatus as set forth in claim 26 wherein the retaining member is slidable to disengage the retaining member from the shoulder of the first locking element for placing the locking assembly in the unlocked configuration. 
     
     
       30. The selectable weight set apparatus as set forth in claim 17 further comprising a rotatable selector element including weight plate indicia, wherein selector element is operatively connected to the at least one selector by the at least one gear assembly for moving the at least one selector to engage and select the weight plates in said at least one of the first and second weight sets, a single weight plate indicia corresponds to a weight plate such that one full rotation of the selector element retains every weight plate in said at least one of the first and second weight sets. 
     
     
       31. A handle assembly for a selectable weight set apparatus comprising:
 a handle for supporting a plurality of weight plates;   an adjustment assembly associated with the handle for selecting a number of weight plates to be retained to the handle, the adjustment assembly comprising at least one selector for movement relative to the handle to engage and select the weight plates to be retained to the handle, the selector having a length;   and a locking assembly for fixing the at least one selector relative to the handle, the locking assembly comprising a first locking element and a plurality of recesses on the at least one selector, the first locking element being configured for releasable engagement with the at least one selector and one of the plurality of recesses on the at least one selector to place the locking assembly in locked and unlocked configurations, each recess of the plurality of recesses defining a longitudinal axis extending transverse to the length of the selector, the first locking element being movable along the longitudinal axes of the plurality of recesses to place the locking assembly in the locked and unlocked configurations;   wherein the adjustment assembly further comprises a selector element operatively connected to the at least one selector for moving the at least one selector to retain a selected number of weight plates, wherein movement of the selector element from a first selector element position to a second selector element position causes movement of the selector from a first selector position to a second selector position, wherein movement of the selector element to advance the at least one selector to a selected weight plate aligns the first locking element with one of the plurality of recesses associated with the selected weight plate, wherein the adjustment assembly and the locking assembly are adapted and configured to prevent, when the first locking element is engaged with any of the plurality of recesses, movement of the selector element from the first selector element position to the second selector element position and movement of the selector from the first selector position to the second selector position, wherein the adjustment assembly and the locking assembly are adapted and configured to allow, when the first locking element is disengaged with the plurality of recesses, movement of the selector element from the first selector element position to the second selector element position and movement of the selector from the first selector position to the second selector position.   
     
     
       32. A handle assembly for a selectable weight set apparatus comprising:
 a handle for supporting a plurality of weight plates;   an adjustment assembly associated with the handle for selecting a number of weight plates to be retained to the handle, the adjustment assembly comprising at least one selector shaft for movement lengthwise of the at least one selector shaft relative to the handle to engage and select the weight plates to be retained to the handle; and   a locking assembly for fixing the at least one selector shaft relative to the handle, the locking assembly comprising an actuator shaft and a plurality of locking structures on the at least one selector shaft, the actuator shaft being linearly movable relative to the at least one selector shaft to engage and disengage the locking structures on the at least one selector shaft to place the locking assembly in locked and unlocked configurations;   wherein the actuator shaft is operatively cooperative with the at least one selector shaft to retain a selected number of weight plates, wherein the adjustment assembly and the locking assembly are adapted and configured to prevent, when the actuator shaft is engaged with any of the plurality of locking structures, movement of the selector shaft from a first selector shaft position to a second selector shaft position, and wherein the adjustment assembly and the locking assembly are adapted and configured to allow, when the actuator shaft is disengaged with the plurality of locking structures, movement of the selector shaft from the first selector shaft position to the second selector shaft position.