Adjustable dumbbell structure and weight plate thereof and weight plate unlocking method

Abstract

An adjustable dumbbell structure includes an adjustable weight unit with weight plates each having first and second combining portions on two sides respectively, which are convex and concave combining portions, through which the weight plates are combined with each other, and a handle assembly having at least one combining member with a third combining portion, which is a convex or concave combining portion, for combination with the first or second combining portion. The convex combining portion has an inner space, a locking piece disposed therein, and an operation opening and a lock opening communicating with the inner space. The concave combining portion has a lock groove for engaging with the locking piece. The locking piece is switchable between locking and non-locking positions by a control member inserted in the inner space through the operation opening, allowing the user to quickly and conveniently adjust the number of weight plates.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An adjustable dumbbell structure comprising:
 at least one adjustable weight unit, the adjustable weight unit comprising a plurality of weight plates, the weight plates being detachably combined in a stacked manner, each of the weight plates comprising a first combining portion and a second combining portion, the first combining portion and the second combining portion being located on two sides of the weight plate respectively, for every two adjacent said weight plates, the first combining portion of one of the weight plates being detachably combined with the second combining portion of the other of the weight plates;   a handle assembly comprising a handle, and at least one combining member fixed to the handle, the combining member comprising a third combining portion, the third combining portion being detachably combined with one of the first combining portion and the second combining portion of one of the weight plates of the adjustable weight unit; and   at least one control member;   wherein the adjustable dumbbell structure comprises a plurality of concave combining portions and a plurality of convex combining portions; each of the concave combining portions comprises at least one lock groove; each of the convex combining portions comprises an inner space, at least one locking piece disposed in the inner space, and at least one operation opening and at least one lock opening, which communicate with the inner space; the locking piece comprises a locking part; the locking piece is switchable between a locking position and a non-locking position by being controlled by the control member which is inserted in the inner space through the operation opening; the first combining portion of each of the weight plates is said convex combining portion; the second combining portion of each of the weight plates is said concave combining portion; the third combining portion of the handle assembly is one of said convex combining portion and said concave combining portion; when one of the convex combining portions is combined with one of the concave combining portions, the locking piece of the convex combining portion is located at the locking position, and the locking part of the locking piece protrudes out of the lock opening, and is engaged with the lock groove of the concave combining portion; when the locking piece is switched to the non-locking position, the locking part is moved toward the inner space and disengaged from the lock groove.   
     
     
         2 . The adjustable dumbbell structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the third combining portion of the combining member of the handle assembly is said concave combining portion for the locking piece of one of the first combining portions of the adjustable weight unit to be engaged with the lock groove of the third combining portion when the locking piece is located at the locking position. 
     
     
         3 . The adjustable dumbbell structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the adjustable dumbbell structure comprises two said adjustable weight units; the handle assembly comprises two said combining members; the two combining members are fixed to two ends of the handle respectively; the two adjustable weight units are detachably combined with the third combining portions of the two combining members respectively. 
     
     
         4 . The adjustable dumbbell structure as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the adjustable dumbbell structure further comprises a base; the base comprises a frame and two positioning members; the frame comprises two inside surfaces facing each other; the two positioning members are fixed to the two inside surfaces respectively; each of the positioning members comprises a fourth combining portion; the fourth combining portions of the two positioning members face each other, and are detachably combined with the two adjustable weight units respectively; each of the fourth combining portions is one of said convex combining portion and said concave combining portion. 
     
     
         5 . The adjustable dumbbell structure as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the fourth combining portion of each of the positioning members of the base is said convex combining portion for the lock groove of one of the second combining portions of each of the adjustable weight units to be engaged with the locking piece of the fourth combining portion located at the locking position; the third combining portion of each of the combining members of the handle assembly is said concave combining portion for the locking piece of one of the first combining portions of each of the adjustable weight units to be engaged with the lock groove of the third combining portion when the locking piece is located at the locking position. 
     
     
         6 . The adjustable dumbbell structure as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein each of the positioning members of the base comprises an outer piece and a blocking piece; the outer piece is fixed to one side of the blocking piece; the fourth combining portion is fixed to another side of the blocking piece; a temporary storage space and an access opening communicating with the temporary storage space are formed between the outer piece and the blocking piece for the control member to be inserted into the temporary storage space through the access opening for temporary storage. 
     
     
         7 . The adjustable dumbbell structure as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the outer piece comprises an inner side and an outer side opposite to the inner side; the inner side is fixed to the blocking piece; the outer side is recessed with a connecting groove; the frame comprises two frame plates; each of the frame plates comprises an extending section, and two connecting sections perpendicularly extending from two ends of the extending section respectively; the two connecting sections of each of the frame plates are connected to the connecting grooves of the outer pieces of the two positioning members respectively. 
     
     
         8 . The adjustable dumbbell structure as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the outer piece is further formed with a buckle recess located correspondingly to the temporary storage space and the access opening, and an engaging rib protruding from each of two side walls of the buckle recess; the control member has a plurality of arc engaging recesses; when the control member is inserted in the temporary storage space through the access opening, the control member is partially exposed in the buckle recess, and the arc engaging recesses are engaged with the engaging ribs and positioned. 
     
     
         9 . The adjustable dumbbell structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the adjustable dumbbell structure comprises only one said adjustable weight unit; the handle assembly comprises only one said combining member; the handle is curved, and two ends of the handle are both fixed to the combining member. 
     
     
         10 . The adjustable dumbbell structure as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the adjustable dumbbell structure further comprises a base; the base comprises a fourth combining portion; the fourth combining portion of the base is detachably combined with one of the first combining portion and the second combining portion of one of the weight plates of the adjustable weight unit; the fourth combining portion is one of said convex combining portion and said concave combining portion. 
     
     
         11 . The adjustable dumbbell structure as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the fourth combining portion of the base is said convex combining portion for the lock groove of one of the second combining portions of the adjustable weight unit to be engaged with the locking piece of the fourth combining portion located at the locking position; the third combining portion of the combining member of the handle assembly is said concave combining portion for the locking piece of one of the first combining portions of the adjustable weight unit to be engaged with the lock groove of the third combining portion when the locking piece is located at the locking position. 
     
     
         12 . The adjustable dumbbell structure as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the base comprises a bottom plate; the bottom plate comprises an upper board and a lower board; the lower board is fixed to one side of the upper board; the fourth combining portion is located at another side of the upper board; at least one temporary storage slot and an access opening communicating with the temporary storage slot are formed between the upper board and the lower board for the control member to be inserted into the temporary storage slot through the access opening for temporary storage. 
     
     
         13 . The adjustable dumbbell structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the adjustable dumbbell structure comprises a plurality of elastic lock assemblies; each of the convex combining portions is provided in the inner space thereof with at least one said elastic lock assembly; each of the elastic lock assemblies comprises an elastic member, a said locking piece, and a pillar; the elastic member comprises a first end and a second end; the first end is attached to an inner surface of the inner space; the second end is attached to an end of the locking piece; the locking part of the locking piece is located at another end of the locking piece; the locking piece is elastically pushed by the elastic member to be normally located at the locking position; the pillar is attached to one side of the locking piece, and located correspondingly to the operation opening; the control member is detachably inserted in the inner space of anyone of the convex combining portions; after the control member is inserted into the operation opening of anyone of the convex combining portions, the control member pushes the pillar located in the inner space, making the pushed pillar drive the locking piece to move to the non-locking position and elastically compress the elastic member. 
     
     
         14 . The adjustable dumbbell structure as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein each of the concave combining portions comprises two said lock grooves toward opposite directions; each of the convex combining portions comprises two said lock openings toward opposite directions, and two locking piece accommodating grooves communicating with the two lock openings respectively; each of the convex combining portions is provided in the inner space thereof with two said elastic lock assemblies; the locking pieces of the two elastic lock assemblies are disposed in the two locking piece accommodating grooves respectively; when the control member is inserted into the operation opening of anyone of the convex combining portions, the control member pushes the pillars of the two elastic lock assemblies located in the inner space to move the locking pieces of the two elastic lock assemblies in opposite directions to their respective non-locking positions. 
     
     
         15 . The adjustable dumbbell structure as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the control member comprises a control portion, and two extending portions extending from the control portion; each of the convex combining portions comprises two said operation openings, and two control member accommodating grooves communicating with the two operation openings respectively; when the control member is inserted into anyone of the convex combining portions, the two extending portions are inserted into the two control member accommodating grooves through the two operation openings respectively, so as to push the pillars of the two elastic lock assemblies respectively. 
     
     
         16 . The adjustable dumbbell structure as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein each of the convex combining portions comprises a first plate, a second plate, and a third plate; the first plate, the second plate and the third plate are stacked to form the inner space; the first plate comprises a locking piece accommodating groove formed in a transversely recessed manner, and a positionally limiting part located in the locking piece accommodating groove; the second plate comprises a control member accommodating groove formed in a vertically recessed manner; the third plate comprises a slide groove extending transversely; the first ends of the elastic members of the elastic lock assemblies are attached to the positionally limiting parts of the first plates of the convex combining portions; the pillars of the elastic lock assemblies are slidably disposed in the slide grooves of the third plates of the convex combining portions; after being inserted into the operation opening of anyone of the convex combining portions, the control member is inserted into the control member accommodating groove of the second plate to push the pillar, making the pillar displace along the slide groove of the third plate and drive the locking piece to move toward the elastic member and compress the elastic member, and meanwhile disengage the locking piece from the lock groove. 
     
     
         17 . The adjustable dumbbell structure as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the control member comprises a control portion, a body portion, a positioning portion and a driving portion, which are connected in order; the positioning portion is formed with an arc recess at a position which corresponds to the pillar when the control member is inserted in the inner space of the convex combining portion; after the control member pushes the pillar to displace by the driving portion and the elastic member is compressed simultaneously, when the pillar is located correspondingly to the arc recess, the compressed elastic member elastically restores itself to elastically push the pillar to engage with the arc recess, and limit a length, for which the locking piece protrudes out of the lock opening. 
     
     
         18 . The adjustable dumbbell structure as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the driving portion of the control member is formed between a terminal end thereof and the arc recess with a guiding bevel; each of the pillars is cylinder-shaped; after the driving portion of the control member is inserted into the operation opening of the convex combining portion, the guiding bevel of the driving portion gradually pushes the pillar to displace. 
     
     
         19 . The adjustable dumbbell structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the adjustable dumbbell structure comprises:
 a base comprising a frame and two positioning members, the frame comprising two inside surfaces facing each other, the two positioning members being disposed on the two inside surfaces respectively, each of the positioning members comprising a fourth combining portion, the fourth combining portions of the two positioning members facing each other and being said convex combining portions;   two said adjustable weight units detachably combined with the two positioning members of the base respectively, the second combining portion of one of the weight plates of each of the adjustable weight units being detachably combined with the fourth combining portion of the associated positioning member;   the handle assembly comprising the handle, and two said combining members combined to two ends of the handle respectively, the two adjustable weight units being detachably combined with the two combining members respectively, the third combining portion of each of the combining members being said concave combining portion, and detachably combined with the first combining portion of one of the weight plates of the associated adjustable weight unit;   a plurality of elastic lock assemblies disposed in the inner spaces of the convex combining portions respectively, each of the elastic lock assemblies comprising an elastic member, a said locking piece, and a pillar, the elastic member comprising a first end and a second end, the first end being elastically pressed on an inner surface of the inner space, the second end being attached to an end of the locking piece, the locking part of the locking piece being located at another end of the locking piece, and elastically pushed by the elastic member to normally protrude out of the lock opening and be engaged with the lock groove of the concave combining portion, the pillar being attached to one side of the locking piece and located correspondingly to the operation opening; and   the control member detachably inserted in the inner space of anyone of the convex combining portions, after the control member is inserted into the operation opening of anyone of the convex combining portions, the control member pushing the pillar located in the inner space, making the pushed pillar drive the locking piece to elastically compress the elastic member, and meanwhile disengage the locking piece from the lock groove.   
     
     
         20 . The adjustable dumbbell structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of the concave combining portions comprises a main plate, two front plates, and two rear plates; the two rear plates are fixed to one side of the main plate; the two front plates are piled on the two rear plates respectively; an assembling groove is formed between the main plate, the two front plates and the two rear plates; at least one of the front plates is formed on one side thereof toward the assembling groove with the lock groove; the convex combining portions are detachably combined to the assembling grooves. 
     
     
         21 . The adjustable dumbbell structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of the convex combining portions comprises a locking piece accommodating groove and a control member accommodating groove; the locking piece accommodating groove communicates with the lock opening; the locking piece is disposed in the locking piece accommodating groove, and slides between the locking position and the non-locking position along the locking piece accommodating groove; the control member accommodating groove communicates with the operation opening for the control member to be disposed in the control member accommodating groove. 
     
     
         22 . The adjustable dumbbell structure as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein each of the convex combining portions comprises a first plate, a second plate, and a third plate; the first plate, the second plate and the third plate are stacked to form the inner space; the lock opening is formed on an outer edge of the first plate; the locking piece accommodating groove extends from the lock opening into the first plate in a first direction; the operation opening is formed on an outer edge of the second plate; the control member accommodating groove extends from the operation opening into the second plate in a second direction; the first direction and the second direction are perpendicular to each other. 
     
     
         23 . The adjustable dumbbell structure as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the adjustable dumbbell structure comprises a plurality of said control members; each of the convex combining portions is installed with a said control member; the control member is disposed in the control member accommodating groove in a way that the control member is switchable between a retraction position and a reach-out position by being linearly moved by a user; the control member comprises an oblique guiding groove; a pillar is fixed on the locking piece; the pillar is disposed in the oblique guiding groove; when the control member is switched between the retraction position and the reach-out position, the control member pushes the pillar to slide along the oblique guiding groove to drive the locking piece to switch between the locking position and the non-locking position. 
     
     
         24 . The adjustable dumbbell structure as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the adjustable dumbbell structure comprises a plurality of said control members; each of the convex combining portions is installed with a said control member; the control member is disposed in the control member accommodating groove in a way that the control member is switchable between a first angular position and a second angular position by being swung by a user; the control member comprises an oblique guiding groove; a pillar is fixed on the locking piece; the pillar is disposed in the oblique guiding groove; when the control member is switched between the first angular position and the second angular position, the control member pushes the pillar to move, driving the locking piece to switch between the locking position and the non-locking position. 
     
     
         25 . The adjustable dumbbell structure as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein each of the convex combining portions comprises two said lock openings toward opposite directions, two said locking piece accommodating grooves communicating with the two lock openings respectively, two said locking pieces disposed in the two locking piece accommodating grooves respectively, and two said pillars attached to the two locking pieces respectively; the control member comprises two said oblique guiding grooves; the two pillars are disposed in the two oblique guiding grooves respectively; when the control member is switched between the first angular position and the second angular position, the control member pushes the two pillars to move, driving the two locking pieces to move in opposite directions to switch between the locking position and the non-locking position. 
     
     
         26 . The adjustable dumbbell structure as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the adjustable dumbbell structure comprises a plurality of said control members; each of the convex combining portions is installed with a said control member; the control member is disposed in the control member accommodating groove rotatably by a user; the control member comprises a gear portion; the locking piece comprises a rack portion; the rack portion is engaged with the gear portion; when the control member is rotated, the gear portion drives the locking piece to move between the locking position and the non-locking position. 
     
     
         27 . The adjustable dumbbell structure as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein each of the convex combining portions comprises two said lock openings toward opposite directions, two said locking piece accommodating grooves communicating with the two lock openings respectively, and two said locking pieces disposed in the two locking piece accommodating grooves respectively; the rack portions of the two locking pieces are engaged with the gear portion of the control member; when the control member is rotated, the gear portion drives the two locking pieces to move in opposite directions between the locking position and the non-locking position. 
     
     
         28 . A weight plate of an adjustable dumbbell structure, which is adapted to be unlocked by a control member, the weight plate comprising a concave combining portion and a convex combining portion, the concave combining portion and the convex combining portion being located on two sides of the weight plate respectively, the concave combining portion comprising a lock groove, the convex combining portion comprising an inner space, a locking piece disposed in the inner space, and an operation opening and a lock opening, which communicate with the inner space, the locking piece comprising a locking part, the locking piece being switchable between a locking position and a non-locking position by being controlled by the control member which is inserted in the inner space through the operation opening, when the locking piece of the convex combining portion is located at the locking position, the locking part of the locking piece protruding out of the lock opening for being engaged with the lock groove of the concave combining portion of another said weight plate, when the locking piece of the convex combining portion is switched from the locking position to the non-locking position, the locking part of the locking piece being moved toward the inner space for being disengaged from the lock groove. 
     
     
         29 . A weight plate unlocking method for an adjustable dumbbell structure, the weight plate unlocking method comprising the steps of:
 providing an adjustable dumbbell structure, the adjustable dumbbell structure comprising a plurality of weight plates, the weight plates being detachably combined in a stacked manner, each of the weight plates comprising a concave combining portion and a convex combining portion, the concave combining portion and the convex combining portion being located on two sides of the weight plate respectively, the concave combining portion comprising a lock groove, the convex combining portion comprising an inner space, a locking piece disposed in the inner space, and an operation opening and a lock opening, which communicate with the inner space, for every two adjacent said weight plates, the convex combining portion of one of the weight plates being detachably combined with the concave combining portion of the other of the weight plates in a way that a locking part of the locking piece of the convex combining portion protrudes out of the lock opening, and is engaged with the lock groove of the concave combining portion;   providing a control member, and making the control member inserted in the inner space through the operation opening of one of the weight plates and directly or indirectly connected with the locking piece; and   using the control member to move the locking piece, making the locking part of the locking piece moved toward the inner space to be disengaged from the lock groove.