Granted Patent B1

US 7,153,243 · App. 10/867,834 · Granted Dec 26, 2006

Abstract

Claims (25)

1. A method of providing adjustable resistance to exercise, comprising the steps of:

providing a bar having a longitudinal axis and an intermediate handle portion;

providing groups of weights at respective, opposite ends of the handle portion, with openings sized and configured to accommodate the bar, and gaps disposed between adjacent weights in each of the groups;

rotatably mounting individual weight selecting members on opposite ends of the bar, at axially spaced positions that align with the gaps;

mounting spacers on the bar between the weight selecting members at axially spaced positions that align with the weights;

moving the bar downward into the openings in the weights in a manner that aligns each of the weight selecting members with a respective one of the weights;

rotating respective weight selecting members into engagement with desired weights; and

moving the bar upward together with the desired weights.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the weight selecting members has an axially extending lip, and the rotating step moves the lip beneath an axially extending nub on a respective one of the weights.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the weight selecting members has an axially extending peg, and the rotating step moves the peg into a transverse notch in a respective one of the weights.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of biasing the weight selecting members to remain in desired orientations relative to the bar.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of providing a visual indication of how much weight is currently selected to resist exercise movement.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the rotation step involves selection a weight in a first one of the groups without selecting a corresponding weight in a second, opposite one of the groups.

7. A method of exercising subject to weight resistance, comprising the steps of:

providing a weight in a rest position in such a manner that a slot in the weight opens upward;

providing a bar having a longitudinal axis;

rotatably mounting a weight selecting member on the bar in such a manner that a lever portion of the weight selecting member extends radially away from the bar;

moving the bar downward into an axially aligned position relative to the weight, wherein the bar extends through the slot in the weight, and the lever portion of the weight selecting member extends beyond a perimeter defined by the weight;

manipulating the lever portion of the weight selecting member to rotate the weight selecting member into a weight engaging orientation, wherein a portion of the weight selecting member underlies a portion of the weight; and

lifting the bar upward together with the weight.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the lever portion of the weight selecting member is a leaf spring that resiliently latches the weight selecting member in the weight engaging orientation.

9. A method of exercising subject to weight resistance, comprising the steps of:

providing a bar having a longitudinal axis and an intermediate handle portion;

providing groups of weights at respective, opposite ends of the handle portion, with openings in the weights sized and configured to receive the bar; and

selectively securing desired weights to the bar by means of leaf springs mounted on opposite ends of the bar at axially spaced positions that align with gaps defined between the weights.

Assignments (8)