Collapsible kettlebell

Abstract

A system and method for collapsing a kettlebell for storage and transport. The system uses a bladder having an inlet releasably coupled to a cap. A ring is provided around the bladder and a handle is pivotably coupled to the ring. For transport and storage, the cap may be removed from the inlet and the bladder emptied of its contents. The kettlebell may then be collapsed and the cap reattached to the inlet. The handle is rotated to a position generally parallel to the ring, decreasing the height and weight of the system by at least fifty percent. When it is desired to use the kettlebell system for exercise, the cap is removed from the inlet and the bladder filled with a material, such as water. The cap is reattached to the inlet and the handle is rotated to a position generally orthogonal to the ring.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A collapsible kettlebell comprising:
 (a) a bladder;   (b) an inlet provided on the bladder;   (c) a cap releasably coupled to the inlet;   (d) a ring provided around the bladder, wherein the ring is more rigid than the bladder; and   (e) a handle coupled to the ring.   
     
     
         2 . The collapsible kettlebell of  claim 1 , wherein the ring circumscribes the bladder. 
     
     
         3 . The collapsible kettlebell of  claim 1 , wherein the handle is pivotably coupled to the ring. 
     
     
         4 . The collapsible kettlebell of  claim 1 , wherein the handle is pivotable between a first position and a second position, wherein the first position has a height at least two hundred percent of the second position. 
     
     
         5 . The collapsible kettlebell of  claim 1 , wherein the handle is pivotable between a first position and a second position, wherein the first position has a height at least three hundred percent of the second position. 
     
     
         6 . The collapsible kettlebell of  claim 1 , wherein the handle is pivotable between a first position and a second position, wherein the first position has a height at least five hundred percent of the second position. 
     
     
         7 . The collapsible kettlebell of  claim 1 , wherein the handle is rotatable from a first position generally parallel to the ring, to a second position generally orthogonal to the ring. 
     
     
         8 . The collapsible kettlebell of  claim 1 , further comprising a fluid provided within the bladder. 
     
     
         9 . The collapsible kettlebell of  claim 8 , wherein the fluid within the bladder weighs at least two hundred percent of the combined weight of the bladder, the ring and the handle. 
     
     
         10 . The collapsible kettlebell of  claim 1 , wherein the bladder is less than 3.0 millimeters thick. 
     
     
         11 . The collapsible kettlebell of  claim 1 , wherein the bladder is less than 1.0 millimeter thick. 
     
     
         12 . The collapsible kettlebell of  claim 1 , wherein the bladder has a volume of between 1.5 liters and 15.0 liters. 
     
     
         13 . The collapsible kettlebell of  claim 1 , wherein the bladder has a volume of between 3.0 liters and 12.0 liters. 
     
     
         14 . The collapsible kettlebell of  claim 1 , wherein the kettlebell is provided with a flat top, a flat bottom, a flat side and curved surfaces over at least twenty-five percent of its remaining surfaces. 
     
     
         15 . A collapsible kettlebell comprising:
 (a) a resilient, collapsible bladder defining an inlet;   (b) a cap releasably coupled over the inlet;   (c) a metal ring provided around the bladder; and   (d) a handle coupled to the ring.   
     
     
         16 . The collapsible kettlebell of  claim 15 , wherein the handle circumscribes the bladder. 
     
     
         17 . The collapsible kettlebell of  claim 15 , wherein the handle is privotably coupled to the ring. 
     
     
         18 . The collapsible kettlebell of  claim 15 , wherein the handle is pivotable between a first position and a second position, wherein the first position has a height at least two hundred percent of the second position. 
     
     
         19 . A method for using a kettlebell comprising:
 (a) proving a kettlebell comprising:
 (i) a bladder; 
 (ii) an inlet provided on the bladder; 
 (iii) a cap releasably coupled to the inlet; 
 (iv) a ring provided around the bladder, wherein the ring is more rigid than the bladder; and 
 (v) a handle coupled to the ring; 
   (b) removing the cap from the inlet;   (c) providing at least one liter of fluid into the bladder;   (d) securing the cap to the inlet;   (e) rotating the handle from a first position generally parallel to the ring, to a second position generally orthogonal to the ring;   (f) rotating the handle from the second position to the first position;   (g) emptying the fluid from the bladder; and   (h) collapsing the bladder to less than twenty-five percent of its original height.   
     
     
         20 . The method for using a kettlebell of  claim 19 , wherein the fluid weighs at least two hundred percent of the combined weight of the bladder, the ring and the handle.