Method and apparatus for magnetically coupling incremental weights to exercise apparatus

1. A dumbbell comprising:

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 mass at the respective end regions to define a handle region axially inward of the end regions that can be gripped by a user during exercise movement of the dumbbell,

means for mechanically securing the weight plate mass to the dumbbell, said bar extending sufficiently axially outward of the mechanically secured weight plate mass to accommodate an incremental weight plate mounted about the bar axially outward of the mechanically secured weight plate mass,

means for magnetically securing a magnetically responsive incremental weight plate to the dumbbell via magnetic attraction when the mounted incremental weight plate has not been positioned about the bar in a decoupling position,

means for establishing a decoupling position for the incremental weight plate in which there is generally no magnetic attraction between the mounted incremental weight plate and the dumbbell so that the incremental weight plate can be removed from the dumbbell without overcoming the force of magnetic attraction,

an incremental weight plate that has at least one magnetic region positioned to face the weight plate mass when the incremental weight plate is mounted on the dumbbell, and

at least one nonmagnetically-responsive region and at least one magnetically responsive region associated with the weight plate mass, each positioned to be generally adjacent to and generally aligned with the magnetic region of the mounted incremental weight plate at a respective position of the mounted incremental weight plate as the mounted incremental weight plate is rotated about the bar.

2. A dumbbell comprising:

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 mass at the respective end regions to define a handle region axially inward of the end regions that can be gripped by a user during exercise movement of the dumbbell,

means for mechanically securing the weight plate mass to the dumbbell, said bar extending sufficiently axially outward of the mechanically secured weight plate mass to accommodate an incremental weight plate mounted about the bar axially outward of the mechanically secured weight plate mass,

means for magnetically securing a magnetically responsive incremental weight plate to the dumbbell via magnetic attraction when the mounted incremental weight plate has not been positioned about the bar in a decoupling position,

means for establishing a decoupling position for the incremental weight plate in which there is generally no magnetic attraction between the mounted incremental weight plate and the dumbbell so that the incremental weight plate can be removed from the dumbbell without overcoming the force of magnetic attraction,

an incremental weight plate that has at least one nonmagnetically-responsive region and at least one magnetically responsive region, each such region positioned to face axially inward when the incremental weight plate is mounted on the dumbbell, and

at least one magnetic region associated with the weight plate mass and positioned to be generally adjacent to and generally aligned with the magnetically-responsive region and the nonmagnetically-responsive region of the incremental weight plate at respective positions of the mounted incremental weight plate as the mounted incremental weight plate is rotated about the bar.

3. A dumbbell comprising:

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 mass at the respective end regions to define a handle region axially inward of the end regions that can be gripped by a user during exercise movement of the dumbbell,

means for mechanically securing the weight plate mass to the dumbbell, said bar extending sufficiently axially outward of the mechanically secured weight plate mass to accommodate an incremental weight plate mounted about the bar axially outward of the mechanically secured weight plate mass,

means for magnetically securing a magnetically responsive incremental weight plate to the dumbbell via magnetic attraction when the mounted incremental weight plate has not been positioned about the bar in a decoupling position,

means for establishing a decoupling position for the incremental weight plate in which there is generally no magnetic attraction between the mounted incremental weight plate and the dumbbell so that the incremental weight plate can be removed from the dumbbell without overcoming the force of magnetic attraction,

an incremental weight plate that has at least one magnetic region positioned to face the weight plate mass when the incremental weight plate is mounted on the dumbbell, and

at least a pair of magnetic regions associated with the weight plate mass, each positioned to be generally adjacent to and generally aligned with the magnetic region of the mounted incremental weight plate at a respective rotational position of the mounted incremental weight plate about the bar,

one of the magnetic regions associated with the weight plate mass having a magnetic polarity that attracts at least one magnetic region of the incremental weight plate to magnetically secure the incremental weight plate to the dumbbell, and

one of the magnetic regions associated with the weight plate mass having a magnetic polarity that repels at least one magnetic region of the incremental weight plate to magnetically repel the incremental weight plate from the weight plate mass.

4. A dumbbell comprising:

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 mass at the respective end regions to define a handle region axially inward of the end regions that can be gripped by a user during exercise movement of the dumbbell,

means for mechanically securing the weight plate mass to the dumbbell, said bar extending sufficiently axially outward of the mechanically secured weight plate mass to accommodate an incremental weight plate mounted about the bar axially outward of the mechanically secured weight plate mass,

means for magnetically securing a magnetically responsive incremental weight plate to the dumbbell via magnetic attraction when the mounted incremental weight plate has not been positioned about the bar in a decoupling position,

means for establishing a decoupling position for the incremental weight plate in which there is generally no magnetic attraction between the mounted incremental weight plate and the dumbbell so that the incremental weight plate can be removed from the dumbbell without overcoming the force of magnetic attraction,

an incremental weight plate having at least a pair of magnetic regions positioned to face the weight plate mass when the incremental weight plate is mounted on the dumbbell, and

at least one magnetic region associated with the weight plate mass and positioned to be generally adjacent to and generally aligned with the magnetic regions of the mounted incremental weight plate at a respective rotational position of the mounted incremental weight plate about the bar,

one of the magnetic regions associated with the incremental weight plate having a magnetic polarity that is attracted to a magnetic region associated with the weight plate mass to magnetically secure the incremental weight plate to the dumbbell, and

one of the magnetic regions associated with the incremental weight plate having a magnetic polarity that is repelled by a magnetic region of the weight plate mass to magnetically repel the incremental weight plate from the weight plate mass.