Selectorized dumbbell having shock absorbing system

Abstract

A selectorized dumbbell has a handle that can be inserted into a gap between stacks of nested left and right weight plates. A selector determines how many left weight plates are coupled to the left end of the handle and how many right weight plates are coupled to the right end of the handle. Each weight plate is held between a pair of flexible arms on a forked carrier. The arms allow the weight plates to deflect out of a normal, substantially upright, orientation if an impact shock is delivered to the dumbbell. The arms are restored to their normal orientation once the impact shock dissipates. Alternatively, the weight plates may comprise a metallic inner weight plate covered with an elastomer encasement and with an integral elastomer lug attaching the weight plates to at least one interconnecting member. The selector may comprise a connecting pin with at least one flexible shock absorbing prong.

1 . A selectorized dumbbell, which comprises:
 a) a plurality of individual weights that can be nested together to provide a stack of nested left weight plates and a stack of nested right weight plates that are separated by a gap;   b) a handle that may be dropped down into the gap between the stacks of nested left and right weight plates;   c) a selector that connects a desired number of weights to the handle; and   d) a shock absorbing system placed somewhere in the nested weights, handle and selector.