U-shaped dumbbell and ergonomic kettlebell

Abstract

A dumbbell has a left weight, a right weight, and an arched handle connected to the tops of the weights. In preferred embodiments, the bottoms of the weights are flat, the weights are at least as wide as they are tall, and the weights are parallel to each other. This configuration combines the advantages of a dumbbell and a kettlebell. The arched handle enables kettlebell-like arm raises, while the dumbbell configuration keeps the weights from pressing into the wrist. The arched handle also enables stable placement of the dumbbell over legs, knees, elbows, and ankles.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A dumbbell comprising:
 a left weight with a top, a bottom, a front, and a back;   a right weight with a top, a bottom, a front, and a back;   and an arched handle with a left end attached to the top of the left weight and a right end attached to the top of the right weight.   
     
     
         2 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom of the left weight and the bottom of the right weight are flat. 
     
     
         3 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein
 the left weight has a left weight width defined as the distance from the back of the left weight to the front of the left weight;   the left weight has a left weight height defined as the distance from the bottom of the left weight to the top of the left weight;   the left weight width is at least as great as the left weight height;   the right weight has a right weight width defined as the distance from the back of the right weight to the front of the right weight;   the right weight has a right weight height defined as the distance from the bottom of the right weight to the top of the right weight;   and the right weight width is at least as great as the right weight height.   
     
     
         4 . The invention of  claim 1 , in which the left weight is parallel to the right weight. 
     
     
         5 . The invention of  claim 2 , wherein
 the left weight has a left weight width defined as the distance from the back of the left weight to the front of the left weight;   the left weight has a left weight height defined as the distance from the bottom of the left weight to the top of the left weight;   the left weight width is at least as great as the left weight height;   the right weight has a right weight width defined as the distance from the back of the right weight to the front of the right weight;   the right weight has a right weight height defined as the distance from the bottom of the right weight to the top of the right weight;   and the right weight width is at least as great as the right weight height.   
     
     
         6 . The invention of  claim 2 , in which the left weight is parallel to the right weight. 
     
     
         7 . The invention of  claim 3 , in which the left weight is parallel to the right weight. 
     
     
         8 . The invention of  claim 5 , in which the left weight is parallel to the right weight. 
     
     
         9 . The invention of  claim 1 , further comprising
 female screw threads at the left end and the right end of the handle;   male screw threads at the top of the left weight and the top of the right weight, to fit into the female screw threads in the handle;   female screw threads in the bottom of the left weight;   a supplementary left weight with a top and a bottom, comprising male screw threads in the top that fit into the female screw threads of the left weight;   female screw threads in the bottom of the right weight;   and a supplementary right weight with a top and a bottom, comprising male screw threads on the top that fit into the female screw threads of the right weight.   
     
     
         10 . The invention of  claim 9 , wherein
 the bottom of the supplementary left weight and the bottom of the supplementary right weight are flat;   and the left weight is parallel to the right weight.   
     
     
         11 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein
 the left weight is hollow;   the left weight has a sealable opening at the top for the insertion and removal of heavy material;   the right weight is hollow;   the right weight has a sealable opening at the top for the insertion and removal of heavy material;   the handle is hollow;   and the handle has a sealable opening for the insertion and removal of heavy material.   
     
     
         12 . The invention of  claim 11 , wherein
 the bottom of the left weight and the bottom of the right weight are flat;   the left weight is parallel to the right weight;   the left weight has a left weight width defined as the distance from the back of the left weight to the front of the left weight;   the left weight has a left weight height defined as the distance from the bottom of the left weight to the top of the left weight;   the left weight width is at least as great as the left weight height;   the right weight has a right weight width defined as the distance from the back of the right weight to the front of the right weight;   the right weight has a right weight height defined as the distance from the bottom of the right weight to the top of the right weight;   and the right weight width is at least as great as the right weight height.