CN111867685B

CN111867685B - Improved weight training device

Info

Publication number: CN111867685B
Application number: CN201980017647.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 凯尔·D·罗斯柴尔德
Original assignee: Sound Shaoer Innovation Co ltd
Current assignee: Sound Shaoer Innovation Co ltd
Priority date: 2018-01-31
Filing date: 2019-01-30
Publication date: 2022-12-06
Anticipated expiration: 2039-01-30
Also published as: CA3090106A1; EP3746191A1; EP3746191A4; MX2020008010A; CN111867685A; WO2019152493A1; CN116271688A; AU2019214909B2; AU2019214909A1

Abstract

A weight apparatus object configured to be lifted from a ground surface comprising: a first portion made of a high hardness material; a second portion made of an elastomeric material having a lower hardness than the first portion; and a handle for grasping the weighted implement object and lifting the object from the ground surface, wherein the second portion includes spaced apart holes in the elastomeric material for absorbing noise generated when the weighted implement object is lowered on the ground surface. Alternatively, a weighted instrument object configured to be lifted from the ground surface is disclosed, the weighted instrument object comprising at least one layer of elastomeric material having spaced holes therein for absorbing noise generated when the weighted instrument object is lowered on the ground surface, and an opening configured to receive a handle. Slip deformation for mounting a sound absorber to an existing weight lifting apparatus is disclosed. In an alternative example, a pill, atlas stone, or similar weight lifting device may be made using a sound absorber to improve the experience.

Description

Improved weight training device

Cross-reference paragraphs

This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application No. 62/703,092, filed on 25/7/2018, and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application No. 15/885,292, filed on 31/1/2018, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

Technical Field

The following description relates to an improved weight training apparatus. For example, the weight training apparatus may include one or more shock absorbing areas to increase shock absorption and reduce noise during use.

Background

Conventional weight plates (dummy plates) used for training are made of solid rubber or elastomeric material. The use of a weight plate instead of a metal dish plate absorbs the shock and deceleration of a weight lift person lowering or impacting a weight apparatus (weight) on the floor. However, as anyone approaching a weight center knows, they are not effective in reducing shock, sound, or impact. A known disadvantage of prior art weight training devices, including weight plate designs, is the compromise between the noise made when the weight apparatus is lowered on the floor and the amount of bounce exhibited by the weight apparatus after it impacts the floor. The low durometer elastomers (e.g., 70) used in such devices are relatively quiet, but they have high bounce, which can lead to injury. High durometer elastomers (e.g., 90) have low bounce but emit significant noise (over 130 dB) when run in. For example, a test was conducted using a 135lb (61.235 kg) barbell with a standard Rogue weight plate, placed from 4'10 "(147.32 cm) on a concrete floor covered with a 3/4 inch (1.905 cm) rubber mat, measuring 136 decibels [ 4 feet (121.92 cm) from decibel scale, and 2 feet (60.96 cm) from the wall ] -the same decibels as a jet engine 100 feet (30.48 m) away. In the same test, the decibel level measured across a concrete wall (approximately 8 inches or 20.32 cm) finished (finish) and insulated (approximately 2.25 inches or 5,715 cm) on one side across a face between two storefronts was 70 decibels. This noise level is very disturbing. Furthermore, pain perception in the average human is known to begin at about 125 db, and prolonged or repeated exposure to sound at or above 85 db can lead to hearing loss. The larger the sound, the shorter the time required to cause a hearing loss to occur.

Another disadvantage is that the high stiffness heavy instruments cause damage to the ground upon impact, especially in training facilities where large forces are applied in small areas of the ground, resulting in cracks that require frequent and expensive repairs. Accordingly, there is a need for a weight apparatus designed to have both low bounce and low noise when lowered and to be more gentle to the surface being struck.

Summary of The Invention

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

In one aspect, a weight instrument object (weight object) configured to be lifted from a ground surface includes a first portion made of a high durometer material, a second portion made of an elastomeric material having a lower durometer than the first portion, and a handle for grasping the weight instrument object and lifting the object from the ground surface, wherein the second portion includes spaced apart apertures in the elastomeric material for absorbing noise generated when the weight instrument object is lowered on the ground surface.

The second portion may be an exterior of the weight instrument object in contact with the ground surface.

The second portion may be an interior portion of the weight instrument object that is not in contact with the ground surface.

The handle may comprise a grip.

The first portion and the second portion may be collectively shaped as a weight plate, and the handle may include a rod passing through an opening in the plate.

At least one of the spaced apart holes may pass completely through the elastomeric material.

At least one of the spaced apart holes may partially pass through the elastomeric material.

A plurality of the spaced apart holes may partially pass through the elastomeric material, adjacent spaced apart holes of the elastomeric material opening in opposite directions.

The second portion may be shaped as a ring and the spaced apart holes may be evenly spaced around the ring.

The shape of the spaced apart holes may be at least one of hexagonal, circular, square, triangular and trapezoidal.

The first portion and the second portion may together be shaped as a bogie plate, and the second portion may be on an outer side of the bogie plate surrounding the first portion.

In another aspect, a weighted instrument body shaped as a weight plate and configured to lift from a ground surface includes at least one elastomeric material including spaced apart holes therein for absorbing noise generated when the weighted instrument body is lowered on the ground surface, and an opening configured to receive a handle for lifting the weighted instrument body.

The at least one elastomeric material may include at least two elastomeric materials, each having spaced apart apertures therein for absorbing noise.

The at least one elastomeric material may have at least two spaced rows of apertures for absorbing noise.

The at least one elastomeric material may have spaced apart apertures therein at an edge (periphery) of the bogie plate, the edge contacting the ground surface when the object is lowered.

The at least one elastomeric material may include at least two elastomeric materials, each elastomeric material having a different hardness.

The shape of the spaced apart holes may be at least one of hexagonal, circular, square, triangular, and trapezoidal.

The weighted instrument object can further include a handle inserted into the opening for grasping the weighted instrument object and lifting the object from the ground surface.

Several of the spaced apart holes may partially pass through the elastomeric material, the spaced apart holes of the elastomeric material opening in opposite directions.

The weight instrument object may include a contact surface that contacts the ground surface when the object is lowered or rested, and the at least one hole in the at least one elastomeric material may extend parallel to the ground surface when the object is rested.

The weight instrument object may include a contact surface that contacts the ground surface when the object is lowered or rested, and the at least one aperture in the at least one elastomeric material may extend perpendicular to the ground surface when the object is rested.

In yet another aspect, a weight instrument object shaped as a weight plate and configured to be lifted from a ground surface includes a first portion located in the center of the weight plate and made of an elastomeric material, a second portion located at an edge of the weight plate and made of an elastomeric material, wherein the edge of the first portion includes a shaped groove formed circumferentially around the edge, and the second portion is molded into the first portion by a protrusion molded to match the shape of the first portion groove, and at least one of the first portion and the second portion contains spaced apart holes in the elastomeric material for absorbing noise generated when the weight instrument object is lowered on the ground surface.

The shaped recess in the first part and the corresponding protrusion in the second part may be T-shaped.

Several of the spaced apart holes may partially pass through the elastomeric material with adjacent spaced apart holes of the elastomeric material opening in opposite directions.

The first and second portions may comprise elastomeric materials of different hardness.

In yet another aspect, there is provided a noise-absorbing article for use with a weight apparatus object, the article comprising: a first portion made of an elastomeric material, the first portion containing spaced apart holes within the elastomeric material for absorbing noise generated when the weight instrument object is lowered on a solid surface; and a lateral extension made of an elastomeric material, the extension being shaped to correspond to a portion of the weight apparatus object to mount the noise-absorbing article to the weight apparatus object.

The weight instrument object may be a weight plate.

The lateral extensions enable mounting of the noise-absorbing article to the load board in a slip-on engagement.

The noise-absorbing article is shaped as a fan that fits over a portion of the outer perimeter (outer perimeter) of the weight plate.

The noise-absorbing article may have a donut shape that fits the entire periphery of the bogie plate.

The noise-absorbing article may have two symmetrical parts which fit over the entire periphery of the bogie plate when assembled.

The lateral extension of the article may be provided with a recess to facilitate mounting of the article on the load board.

In another aspect, there is provided a noise absorbing weight apparatus object comprising: one or more weight plates, each weight plate having an outer periphery provided with a noise absorbing elastomeric material; two side portions made of a noise-absorbing elastomeric material, each side portion sized to extend to or beyond the outer perimeter of the one or more bogie plates; and a connector passing through the opening of the one or more weight plates and into each of the two side portions to retain the one or more weight plates and the side portions as a composite noise absorbing weight apparatus object.

The connector may be a threaded connector that fits into corresponding openings in the two sides.

Each of the two sides may be shaped to fit into a hemisphere of the periphery of the bogie plate.

The weight of the two sides, the one or more weight plates and the connector may be selected to match a predetermined weight of a medicine ball (medical ball).

Drawings

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustration, certain examples of the present description are shown in the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate implementations of systems, apparatus and methods consistent with the present specification and, together with the description, serve to explain advantages and principles consistent with the invention.

Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of a conventional weight plate.

Fig. 2 is a front perspective illustration of an example of a mute weight pad.

Fig. 3 is a front perspective illustration of another example of a mute weight pad.

Fig. 4 is a side perspective view of an example of a mute dumbbell.

Fig. 5 is a side perspective view of another example of a mute dumbbell.

Figure 6 is a side perspective illustration of an example of a silent kettlebell.

Fig. 7 is a front perspective illustration of another example of a silent kettle-bell.

FIG. 8 is a side perspective view of the crescent-shaped damper.

Fig. 9 is a front view of yet another example of a mute weight pad and a perspective illustration of a barbell with two mute weight pads.

Fig. 10 is a front view of an additional example of a mute weight pad and a perspective illustration of a barbell with two mute weight pads.

Fig. 11 is a front view of another additional example of a mute weight pad and a perspective illustration of a barbell with two mute weight pads.

Fig. 12 is a front view of another example of a mute weight pad and a perspective illustration of a barbell with two mute weight pads.

Fig. 13 is an illustration of a deadweight plate formed by a two-part molding process of one or more materials.

FIG. 14 is an illustration of a slip design variation used with a bogie plate in one example.

Fig. 15 is a front, side and perspective view of a barbell with two slip deformed deadweight plates.

Figure 16 is a diagram showing the Stealth ball from a different perspective, incorporating an exploded and assembled configuration in one example.

Fig. 17 is an exploded variation of a quiet steadh ball in one example.

Figure 18 is a fully assembled variant of the quiet stead ball in figure 17.

The relative sizes and depictions of various elements, features and structures may be exaggerated for clarity, illustration and convenience.

Detailed Description

The following detailed description is provided to assist the reader in obtaining a thorough understanding of the methods, devices, and/or systems described herein. Accordingly, various changes, modifications and equivalents of the systems, devices and/or methods described herein will be suggested and will therefore be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions may be omitted for increasing clarity and conciseness.

Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. For example, use of a singular term (e.g., "a") is not intended to limit the number of items. For clarity, relational terms such as, but not limited to, "top," "bottom," "left," "right," "up," "down," "up," "lateral," and the like may also be used in the description and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention or the appended claims. Further, it should be understood that any one feature may be used alone or in combination with other features. Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the invention will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of this detailed description. Such additional systems, methods, features and advantages are intended to be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims.

As used herein, the term "about" refers to plus or minus 10% of a given value, unless specifically stated otherwise. As used herein, the term "shaped" means that an article has the overall appearance of a given shape even with minor deformations as compared to the pure form of the given shape. A through hole or a completely penetrating hole is a hole that provides an opening in the body through which something, such as air, can pass. The through holes open on opposite sides of the entity or surface. The partially penetrating holes are open only on one side of the entity or surface. A "groove" is a cut or depression in the surface of a material that is not surrounded by the material. A "layer" is a sheet of material having a quantity or thickness that forms a solid body or surface. In this disclosure, the term "quiet" will also be used to refer to improved weight apparatus (i.e., weight plates, dumbbells, kettlebells, etc.) that tend to exhibit low noise upon impact, according to various examples of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of a prior art weight plate 100. The weight plate is a disc-shaped weight apparatus mounted on a barbell for weight lifting training. The bogie plate includes an outer rim 102, a body 104, a hub 106 and a collar 108. The collar defines a central rod bore 110. The interface between the rim and the body includes an undercut 114. Thus, the thickness of the body may be slightly less than the thickness of the rim. The interface between the body and the hub includes a step 116. Thus, the hub may have a greater thickness than the body. The greater thickness of the rim and hub relative to the body allows the raised indicia 120 to be molded into the body. The hub and rim protect the marker when the weight plate is lying flat on the ground. The undercut may also serve as a handle to make it easier to lift the weight plate. The outer edge of the rim includes a chamfer 112. This makes it easier to pick up the bogie plate when it is lying on the ground.

A typical bogie plate may have a radius 122 in the range of 8.75 inches to 8.86 inches (222.25 mm to 225.044 mm). A radius of 8.86 inches (222.25 mm) is a standard competitive size. The shank bore radius 126 is about 1 inch (25.4 mm). The hub radius 124 is about 4.26 inches (108.204 mm). The rim height 132 is about 1.77 inches (44.958 mm). The undercut is about 0.43 inches (10.922 mm). The rim thickness 136 may range from 1.4 inches to 3.75 inches (35.56 mm to 95.25 mm) depending on the weight of the weight plate.

The bogie plate may be made of solid rubber, bonded crumb rubber, polyurethane or other elastomers. The hardness of the elastomer may be in the range of 70 to 90. The collar may be made of metal. The hub may include a metal disc plate to add weight.

Figure 2 is a front perspective view of an improved weight plate 200 in one example of the invention. The bogie plate in fig. 2 is disc-shaped with a damper area 220 in the rim 202. The damper region 220 includes a first circumferential row of first apertures 222. In one example, the holes 222 pass laterally through the rim and are evenly spaced. In a different example, the hole 222 does not pass completely through but only partially through the rim. The holes 222 in this example are hexagonal, but any shape may be used. Some shapes that may be used for the holes include, but are not limited to, circular, square, triangular, trapezoidal, and any other shape including irregular shapes. In this example, the interior corners of the hexagon are rounded to reduce material cracking. Suitable inner radii of curvature for the inner corners 242 range from 0.02 inches to 0.05 inches (0.05 mm to 1.27 mm). The elastomeric material between the holes 222 forms a radial wall 224. When the bogie plate is lowered on the ground, the aperture 222 and surrounding radial wall 224 act as a shock absorber, thereby reducing emitted noise without unduly increasing bounce. For a weight plate having a radius of about 8.75 inches (222.25 mm) or greater, a suitable first aperture width 226 is in the range of 0.5 inches to 0.75 inches (12.7 mm to 19.05 mm). Suitable hole spacing 228 is in the range of 0.75 inches to 1.5 inches (19.05 mm to 38.1 mm). Suitable wall widths 230 are in the range of 0.13 inch to 0.5 inch (3.301 mm to 12.7 mm). Suitable wall heights 232 are in the range of 0.5 inch to 1 inch (12.7 mm to 25.4 mm). Suitable spacing for other shapes may vary and be determined experimentally as discussed below.

According to the example shown in fig. 2, the second circumferential row of second apertures 234 may be disposed adjacent to the row of first apertures. As shown, the second hole 234 passes transversely through the disk, but the second hole 234 may only partially pass through the disk in different examples. Second apertures 234 form a plurality of circumferential walls 236 with first apertures 222. The rows of second apertures 234 and corresponding walls provide additional shock absorbing capacity.

Additional rows of holes may be provided as desired. The

apertures

222, 234 need not have the same shape or size within a given row. A suitable overall height of the bumper region 238 occupied by the rows of

apertures

222, 234 may range from 0.5 inch to 1.5 inches (12.7 mm to 38.1 mm) for standard sized equipment, or for other designs.

Sufficient clearance 254 should be provided between the first aperture 222 and the outer radial surface of the disk 256 to form the skin (skin) 252. Suitable skin thicknesses are typically in the range of 0.06 to 0.25 inches (1.524 to 6.35 mm). Depending on the material chosen, a greater thickness may be used for a stronger skin. The outer radial surface may also include radial protrusions (not shown) that can act as additional shock absorbers. For example, the bumper zone 238 may be located at the outermost 2.5 to 3 inches (63.5 to 76.2 mm).

The deadweight plate may include a rim 202, a body 204, a hub 206, and a collar 208. An undercut 212 may be provided at the interface of the rim and the body. A step 214 may be provided at the interface of the body and the hub. The dimensions of the rim, body, hub, collar, undercut and step may be similar to the dimensions of the corresponding features of the prior art bogie plate of fig. 1. The undercut and step are recessed into the body relative to the rim and hub so that raised indicia 216 may be provided in the body. A chamfer (not shown) may also be provided on the outer corner of the rim. As noted, the external dimensions of the plate are preferably similar to those of standard equipment, but may vary in different settings.

To maintain the same plate radius and weight as the prior art and/or racing standards, the plate thickness 244 may be increased to account for the loss of material in the

holes

222, 234. Higher density materials may also be added in different examples. One example is to use a metal plate disposed at the hub or inside the bogie plate to increase the overall density without excessively increasing the thickness.

The deadweight plate may be made of an elastomer, such as rubber, pressed crumb rubber, polyurethane, or a mixture thereof. The hardness may be in the range of 60 to 90. Lower durometer elastomers may be used for load bearing plates for designated homes. This will help to keep the noise at a level acceptable for the home. Different stiffness may be used in the damper area relative to the rest of the deadweight plate.

Fig. 3 is a front perspective view of an alternative deadweight plate 300. This is similar to the mute weight plate of fig. 2, except that the bumper region 302 includes a first aperture 304 having an elongated inverted trapezoidal shape. The first holes 304 are evenly spaced in the circumferential direction. Radial walls 306 are formed between the apertures 304. The radial wall 306 has a relatively wide base and a narrow top.

Fig. 4 is a side perspective view of the mute dumbbell 400. The dumbbell comprises a conventional hexagonal weight instrument dumbbell 404 with a shock absorber 402 disposed around each weight instrument. The dumbbell 404 may be made of metal, and the damper 402 may be made of elastomer. The holes in the damper are similar to the holes in the deadweight plate of fig. 2, or may be adjusted to accommodate the overall size of the dumbbell.

Fig. 5 is a side perspective view of an alternative mute dumbbell 500. The dumbbell comprises a conventional hexagonal weight instrument dumbbell 404 with a shock absorber 502 disposed around each weight instrument. Dumbbell 404 may be made of metal and shock absorbers 502 may be made of an elastomer. The holes in the damper are similar to the holes in the deadweight plate of fig. 3, or may be adjusted to fit the size of the dumbbell. The shock absorber for either dumb bells (fig. 4 or 5) may have one or more flat outer surfaces (not shown) for storage and stacking. In certain examples, the shock absorbing elastomer layer can be configured such that the weight implement can maintain the shape of a conventional hexagonal weight implement dumbbell.

Fig. 6 is a side perspective view of an improved kettle-bell 600. The kettle-bell 600 includes a conventional kettle-bell 604 containing a plurality of shock absorber crescents 602 disposed about the weight apparatus. The kettle bell 600 may be made of metal and the damper crescent may be made of elastomer. The hole in the crescent part of the damper is similar to the hole in the deadweight plate of figure 2 or modified as required to accommodate the size of the kettle bell. The crescent may be attached to the kettle-bell by any known means, such as welding, gluing, pre-molding or otherwise. Six to eight crescent parts are radially arranged and joined at the bottom of the kettle bell. The crescent parts with enough quantity are added, so that the metal kettle bell in the crescent parts cannot collide with the ground when being placed down.

Figure 7 is a front perspective view of an alternative improved kettle bell 700. The kettle-bell includes a conventional kettle-bell 604 with several shock absorber crescents 702 disposed about the weight apparatus. The kettle bell 604 may be made of metal and the damper crescent 702 may be made of an elastomer. The holes in the crescent portion of the damper are similar to the holes in the deadweight plate of fig. 3, or are adjusted according to the size of the device. The crescent may be attached to the kettle-bell by any known means, such as welding, gluing or pre-moulding. In this example, six to eight crescent portions are radially arranged and engage at the bottom of the kettle bell, but more or fewer crescent portions may be used. As in other examples discussed herein, the aperture may extend only partially through the damper crescent. An alternative design of a quiet kettle bell that does not use a damper crescent may include a heavier inner portion provided with differently sized and arranged damper holes and an elastomeric outer portion. In such embodiments, the holes may be formed to extend radially or at an angle towards the center of the kettle-bell. In an alternative embodiment shown in fig. 6 and 7, the ends of the

crescent portions

602 and 702 facing the top of the kettle-bell may be tapered to avoid sharp edges (not shown). In yet another embodiment, the shock absorbing portion of the kettle-bell may be configured as a layer of elastomeric material having holes therein surrounding the metal core of the kettle-bell in place of the crescent.

FIG. 8 is a side perspective view of a crescent-shaped shock absorber 800 made in accordance with the present invention. The crescent has a thickness 810 of about 1 inch (25.4 mm). It has a height 812 of about 1 inch. It has an arcuate shape with a crescent angle 806 of about 90. ToThe radius of curvature of the inner surface 808 is about 8.75 inches (222.25 mm). Thus, the crescent will conform to the outer curvature of the prior art bogie plate of FIG. 1. Evenly spaced hexagonal first holes 811 arranged in a single row. In one example, the hole spacing 814 may be about 1 inch (25.4 mm). The hole width 816 is about 0.63 inches (16.002 mm). The radial walls between the holes each have a width 818 of about 0.38 inches (9.652 mm). The skin thickness 822 is about 0.13 inches (3.302 mm). In particular implementations, reclosable 3M ^TM DualLock ^TM The front half of the fastener 804 is disposed on the inner surface of the crescent. The front half mates with a corresponding back half of a dualock fastener bonded to the outer radial surface of a conventional bogie plate as shown in fig. 1. The crescent part is formed by molding a thermoplastic elastomer compound Stantoprene ^TM 101-64 (item 802). The Stantoprene rated hardness was Shore A (Shore A) 69.

In one example, a conventional barbell weighing 135lb was tested. The barbell has a weight plate at each end of the pattern shown in fig. 1. The barbell was lowered from a height of 4'10 inches (147.32 cm) onto a rubber mat covering the concrete floor. The noise of the impact was measured with a decibel meter. 136dB was recorded when the barbell was lowered without any crescent-shaped dampers on the weight plate.

Another test was performed with four crescent-shaped dampers attached to the outer radial surface of the weight plate on the barbell using a dualock fastener. The crescent moon portion wraps around the outer surface of each bogie plate. The lowering test was repeated. The recorded noise was only 95dB and the bounce increased slightly. It will be appreciated that the above described test procedure may be used to help design an improved weight training apparatus having desired characteristics. For example, performing the described tests on different orifice designs may determine an optimum orifice configuration for a desired noise level.

Fig. 9 illustrates a front view of yet another example of a mute weight pad and a perspective view of a barbell with a mute weight pad.

Referring to fig. 9, another example of a silent weight plate 900 is shown that is similar to the silent weight plate of fig. 2, except that there are at least two

bumper regions

902, 908. The first region 902 includes a first circumferential row of apertures 904, possibly a second circumferential row of apertures 906, and the second region 908 includes a third circumferential row of apertures 910, possibly a fourth circumferential row of apertures 912.

In a preferred embodiment, the apertures 904 of the first circumferential row and the apertures 910 of the third circumferential row may be the same size and may have the same size as described with reference to the first apertures 222 of the mute weight plate 200 of fig. 2. The optional second circumferential row of apertures 906 and the fourth circumferential row of apertures 912 may be the same size and may have the same size as described with reference to the second aperture 234 of the mute weight plate 200 of fig. 2. Other dimensions, including the inner radius of curvature of the inner corners of the

holes

904, 906, 910, 912, the hole spacing, the wall width, the wall height, the overall height of each

bumper region

902, 908 occupied by the two rows of holes, and the skin thickness, may be the same as those provided in the example of fig. 2. In a preferred example, the distance between the outer edge of the bogie plate 900 and the outermost edge of the second damper area 908 may be 5 inches to 7.5 inches (127 mm to 190.5 mm), wherein the outermost edge of the second damper area 908 is defined by a circle that touches a point of each aperture 910 that is closest to the outer edge of the bogie plate 900.

In this example, by moving the hole towards the center of the plate, the vibration and forces transferred from the ground when the plate is lowered can be better controlled. By moving the hole towards the center, this enables the two solid parts of the plate to move slightly independently of each other when a large force is applied, for example when putting down a barbell. The resulting reduction in force will reduce the stress on the underlying floor, thereby reducing the overall noise and damage to the floor. The second shock absorber region 908 and

corresponding holes

910, 912 will also reduce the force exerted on and from the collar, thereby reducing the likelihood of a failure point. As before, the holes may be pierced to simplify manufacturing, or may be partially pierced to provide greater structural integrity. In the case of partial through holes, a row of adjacent holes may alternate in a pattern where every other hole faces one direction (i.e., opens in one direction) and alternate adjacent holes face the other direction (i.e., opens in the other direction). This hole arrangement may be applied to all embodiments described in this application (i.e., fig. 3-11) and is intended to improve the structural integrity of the shock absorbing portion of the respective weight apparatus.

Fig. 10 illustrates a diagram of a front view of an additional example of a silent weight plate and a perspective view of a barbell with a silent weight plate.

Referring to fig. 10, another example of a deadweight plate 1000 is shown that is similar to the deadweight plate of fig. 9, except that only an inner bumper region 1002 is present. The region 1002 includes a first circumferential row of apertures 1004 and optionally a second circumferential row of apertures 1006.

In a preferred embodiment, the first circumferential row of holes 1004 may be the same size as described with reference to the first holes 222 of the deadweight plate 200 of FIG. 2. The second circumferential row of apertures 1006 may be the same size as described with reference to the second apertures 234 of the deadening weight plate 200 of fig. 2. Other dimensions, including the inner radius of curvature of the inner corners of the

holes

1004, 1006, the hole spacing, the wall width, the wall height, the overall height of the bumper region 1002 occupied by the two rows of holes, and the skin thickness, may be the same as those provided in the example of FIG. 2, or may vary as desired. In a preferred example, the distance between the outer edge of weight plate 1000 and the outermost edge of shock absorber region 1002 may be 5 inches to 7.5 inches (127 mm to 190.5 mm), where the outermost edge of shock absorber region 1002 is defined by a circle that touches the point of each hole 1004 that is closest to the outer edge of weight plate 1000.

Further, it should be understood that the size and gauge of the holes may vary according to the optimal gauge as determined by testing. In other words, the test procedure may be used to help design an improved weight plate, or more generally a weight instrument, having the desired characteristics. For example, performing the described tests on different orifice designs may determine an optimum orifice configuration for a desired noise level and/or weight of the device.

In this example, by moving the row of

shock absorbing holes

1004, 1006 to the center of the plate, this may improve durability as shock absorbing on the outer ring changes.

Fig. 11 illustrates a front view of another example of a mute weight pad and a perspective view of a barbell with a mute weight pad.

Referring to fig. 11, another example of a mute weight pad 1100 is shown. This example is similar to the silent bogie plate of fig. 10, except that the inner damper area 1102 is closer to the collar of the bogie plate 1100. The region 1102 includes a first circumferential row of apertures 1104 and an optional second circumferential row of apertures 1106.

In a preferred embodiment, the size of the first circumferential row of apertures 1104 may be the same as described with reference to the first apertures 222 of the deadweight plate 200 of fig. 2, or may be varied as desired or determined by design. The second circumferential row of apertures 1106 may have the same dimensions as described with reference to the second apertures 234 of the deadweight plate 200 of fig. 2. Other dimensions, including the inner radius of curvature of the inner corners of the

holes

1104, 1106, the hole spacing, the wall width, the wall height, the overall height of the bumper region 1102 occupied by the two rows of holes, and the skin thickness, may be the same as those provided in the example of FIG. 2, or may be varied as desired or dictated by design. In a preferred example, the distance between the outer edge of weight plate 1100 and the outermost edge of bumper region 1102 may be 6 to 7.5 inches (152.4 to 190.5 mm), wherein the outermost edge of bumper region 1102 is defined by a circle that contacts the point of each hole 1104 that is closest to the outer edge of weight plate 1100.

In this example, by moving a row of

shock absorbing holes

1104, 1106 to the collar of the plate, this may improve durability with shock absorption on the outer ring. This may also reduce the force causing damage to the collar by moving the row of

shock absorbing holes

1104, 1106 to a position where the rod passes through the plate. It will be appreciated that the pole holes, either alone or in combination with the poles, may be used as handles to grasp the board and lift it off the ground.

Fig. 12 illustrates a front view of another example of a mute weight pad 1200 and a diagram of a perspective view of a barbell with a mute weight pad. The weight plate 1200 of fig. 12 is a variation of the weight plate 200 shown in fig. 2, wherein a high density foam is added to the open space of the shock absorbing holes on the outer ring. In this example, by adding foam to the open space of the shock absorbing hole, all of the advantages of the weight plate 200 of FIG. 2 are retained, with the additional benefits of reduced noise, reduced pressure, and increased durability.

Although this example shows adding foam to all of the holes, many different variations may be provided. For example, the foam may be added only to the first circumferential row of apertures and not to the second circumferential row of apertures. Instead, the foam may be added only to the cells in the second circumferential row and not to the cells in the first circumferential row. Further, foam may be added to only half of the cells in any type of arrangement, such as every other cell or only on one side of the weight plate 1200. This example may apply to all embodiments shown; in other words, in all embodiments described throughout the application, foam may be used to fill the pores. Other materials, such as elastomers, gels, or other materials, may also be used to fill the hole.

On the other hand, a flat plate of elastomer with a shock absorber region may be used as a protective pad. The damper region may be similar to the regions described above. Thus, when a weight implement is lowered onto the pad, the pad will dampen the noise without unduly increasing bounce. The cushion can be made by extrusion.

FIG. 13 illustrates a view of a deadweight plate formed by a two-part molding process of one or more materials.

Referring to fig. 13, a method of manufacturing a mute weight 1300 and a mute weight 1300 formed using such a method are described. According to this example, central section 1310 of plate 1300 may be molded onto outer ring 1320 in a two-part molding process. This manufacturing process will enable the central section 1310 of plate 1300 to be molded in a higher density rubber, thereby achieving reduced bounce and greater durability.

For example, the central section 1310 may be made of rubber having a density in the range of 50 to 70 durometer, preferably in the range of 55 to 70 durometer, and most preferably in the range of 59 to 69 durometer. The outer ring 1320 may be made of rubber having a density in the range of 70 to 90 durometer, preferably in the range of 75 to 90 durometer, and most preferably in the range of 79 to 89 durometer. High density or hard weight boards are less bouncing and are more durable than low density boards. Thus, at least one advantage of the higher density outer ring 1320 includes providing a more durable and less resilient bogie plate while maintaining the shock absorbing advantages of the lower stiffness center section 1310.

In another example, the central section 1310 may be formed of a higher density rubber than the rubber forming the outer ring 1320. In other words, unlike the previous example, the lower density section may be formed externally while the higher density section is formed internally. In another example, the central section 1310 and the outer ring 1320 may be formed of different densities of materials or different materials together, including any one or more of rubber, polymer, metal, other elastomers, or other materials.

In one example, a method of manufacturing weight plate 1300 includes molding central section 1310 of plate 1300 with an inverted T-shaped groove 1315, the inverted T-shaped groove 1315 formed circumferentially around the entire outer ring, as shown in cross-section of weight plate 1300. After the central section 1310 is cured or partially cured, the outer section 1320 may be molded with a T-shaped protrusion 1325 formed circumferentially around the entire outer section 1320, the T-shaped protrusion 1325 corresponding to the T-shaped groove 1315 of the central section 1310. In this example, outer section 1320 is also molded to contain a first circumferential row of holes 1330 and a second circumferential row of holes 1335. This results in weight plate 1300 having the same arrangement of holes as provided in weight plate 200 in the example of fig. 2, but weight plate 1300 is formed from one or more materials having different properties. Although this example depicts a T-shaped recess 1315 and a T-shaped protrusion 1325, it should be understood that many other shapes may be used for the recess and protrusion, such as corresponding squares, triangles, U-shapes, and so forth. Additionally, although this example describes grooves and protrusions around the entire circumference of weight plate 1300, it should be understood that grooves and protrusions may be formed around one or more localized sections around the circumference of weight plate 1300.

Further, while this example results in weight plate 1300 having the same arrangement of apertures as provided in weight plate 200 of the example in fig. 2, it should be understood that any of the described and contemplated examples may also be formed according to this method. In other words, the inner section may also be molded with holes to form the weight plate 900 as provided in the example of fig. 9, or only the inner section may be molded with holes to form the weight plates 1000, 1010 as provided in the examples of fig. 10 and 11. Further, in all of these examples, the resulting weight plate 1300 may include holes filled with foam, as described in connection with the illustration provided in fig. 12.

Sound testing was performed using an exemplary prototype of the above-described bogie plate as shown in figure 2.

The test parameters used were as follows:

weight plate brand: rogue Echo-88 hardness weight bearing plate

The weight of the system is as follows: 95lb (2 x45lb weight board, 1x5lb wooden blind tenon)

Barbell: wooden blind tenon 2"

Floor board: standard 3/4' rubber spacer on concrete

A lantern ring: clout body-building lantern ring

Distance between decibel meter and barbell: 4

The results of this test are described in table 1 below. Referring to Table 1, rogue echo results are dB values without using the full true model, and Stealth 1Strip SWL full true model results are dB values using the full true model. Delta (delta) refers to the difference in value between with and without the prototype, and other values, including percent reduction, average dB reduction, and percent noise cancelled, are based on the calculated delta.

TABLE 1

Those skilled in the art will recognize that the described examples are not limited to any particular device size. Further, those skilled in the art will recognize that the weight plates, dumbbells, kettleballs, and shock absorbers described herein are not limited to any type of material. As a non-limiting example, the weight plate is formed primarily of rubber. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other diameters, types, and thicknesses of preferred materials may be utilized when considering preferred shock absorption characteristics and different applications that may be determined and optimized, for example, via sound testing as described above.

Additional configurations are contemplated as part of all of the embodiments discussed above. The modification is based on an outward facing hole "seal", similar to the familiar honeycomb seal. The sealing may be achieved with a membrane covering the outwardly facing openings, thereby protecting them from dirt without affecting the overall design and/or efficiency of the holes. Methods of sealing the outwardly facing aperture for this purpose will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. This may include, but is not limited to, sealing with additional elastomeric or non-elastomeric materials, such as, but not limited to, transparent or opaque rubber, plastic, or polymeric materials.

Fig. 14 illustrates a diagram of another embodiment of the present invention that includes a slip design variation for use with a weight plate or other weight lifting apparatus.

In this design modification, the silent (or steadh) weight slide deformation allows users to add muting technology to their existing panel(s). This variation uses the same sound and damping techniques as the full-plate version discussed above. However, unlike molding the entire plate as discussed in the various examples above, the slip version only includes the crescent and the pliable rubber inner rim or ring, which enables the shock absorbing section to forcibly slip over the existing weight plate.

This design modification is illustrated in fig. 14, where fig. 14A shows a side view of a shock absorbing slip segment 1400; FIG. 14B is a cross section of a shock absorbing slip segment showing a retaining finger or lateral extension 1410; and figure 14C is a side view of the shock absorbing section 1400 mounted on an existing plate. In fig. 14A, slip ring design 1400 has an outer rim consisting of two rings with hexagonal holes and side faces extending down the outermost portion of the existing weight plate. It will be appreciated that, as previously discussed, the slip design may use different partial hole configurations or hole shapes instead of through holes. These holes are used to dampen the shock as the weight lift person lowers the barbell. The lateral extensions 1410, best shown in fig. 14B, enable the ring of noise-absorbing apertures to forcibly slip over existing plates. Similar elastomeric materials having different durometers may be used, similar to the sides used in the sound absorbing section. In alternative embodiments, these lateral extensions may be tapered, resulting in a beaded section to increase friction and retention (similar to a bicycle tire fitted on an inner tube). The sides are somewhat ductile (i.e., capable of deforming under compressive stress) to enable slippage on the plate, yet somewhat resilient, so that the material deformed under load returns to its original dimensions when unloaded. Two tabs 1420 at the ends of the lateral extensions hold the glide portion fixed to the plate. For example, if vulcanized rubber is used for the lateral extensions, durability is generally not an issue.

Fig. 14C shows a fully assembled design, where the glide sound absorbing section is mounted on an existing board. It will be appreciated that different slip design configurations are possible, wherein multiple sectors mounted separately and glued together may be used instead of a one-piece circular ring shaped sound absorber. One such design modification may use two or more segments (e.g., as shown in fig. 6-8) that are separately mounted and secured together, such as by gluing, to remain in place. The slip design of the multi-sector circular ring can also be accomplished by using slits in the side and a belt or leather to pass through the center hole of the bogie plate (where the rod passes) and attach to the other side.

Referring to fig. 14B, another potential design modification includes a sound absorber in which a circular ring shaped absorber is cut in the middle in the vertical direction, resulting in two parts that can be secured together in use.

With further reference to the slip design, it will be appreciated that the sides will be resilient and should be difficult to place on the plate and correspondingly difficult to disengage from the plate in use. Conceptually, this design is similar to a bicycle tire on an inner tube, a fitted sheet on a mattress, or a swimming cap on the head. When using a lower durometer rubber on the side, the slip design should be flexible enough to make it more difficult to fit but conform.

Another possibility is to add small gaps in the rubber to relieve some of the tension. This modification may require a belt to be threaded through the central hole of the bogie plate (where the rod passes) and attached on the opposite side to hold the glide in place.

In different examples, the size of the plate will dictate different sized glide bumpers, or the end user will use them only with weights of, for example, 25 and 45lb (11.34 and 20.41kg, respectively). The need here outweighs the financial burden and underestimated cost of floor repair.

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, other modifications are possible which facilitate mounting of the absorber to existing equipment.

Fig. 15 shows a diagram of a front view, a side view and a perspective view of a barbell with two slip deformed deadweight plates.

This figure illustrates various front, side and perspective views of a silent (or steadh) weight slide option in certain examples. Two weight plates on the barbell are shown without limiting the type of equipment for which the slip design is suitable. It is noted here that the inner edge of the Stealth weight slipping ring extends 4 to 10 inches above the outer edge of the existing weight plate. In one example, the sides may have a raised texture on the bottom side and rubber tubing at their outermost edges to increase friction and hold onto the weight plate.

The design examples shown in figures 14 and 15 both show slip deformation on a prior art weight plate. Such slippage deformation may slightly increase the overall diameter of the weight plate and thus may not be suitable for competitive use. However, this can be a minor cost to the average user as well as to trained professional athletes in exchange for the significant reduction in noise and damage that results therefrom. The slip design may also add slightly to the weight. This problem can be remedied by reducing the weight of the rod or adjusting other weight instruments used during the lifting process. Naturally, more than two plates may be attached to the barbell. In this case, in a different embodiment, only the plate with the largest diameter may be equipped with a sound absorber.

Fig. 16 is a diagram showing a steadh ball with sound absorption from a different perspective, incorporating a disassembled and assembled configuration in one example.

In many weight rooms, crossFit halls, and gyms, one may find the deformation of a medicine ball. A medicine ball (exercise ball, exercise ball or fitness apparatus ball) is a weighted ball generally equal to the shoulder diameter that is often used for rehabilitation and strength training. Other variations of a similar type include a padded bolster for throwing, a sand ball for slamming and lifting, and Atlas stones for lifting. Currently, users are required to purchase a ball for each weight instrument that is intended to be thrown, struck or lifted. Atlas stones, for example, as a lifting stone, usually consist of several weight-increasing stones placed on top of bosses (podia) of different heights. Atlas stones are cast by gym owners using concrete molds and are often used to lift onto the shoulders of a weightlifting person and then lowered onto the ground, causing noise and severe damage to the floor.

By combining a silent (steadh) weight lifting plate with two sound absorbing hemispheres, as shown in fig. 16, it is possible to develop the first adjustable medicine ball and Atlas stone, which makes use of the equipment already available in the gym. People can lift and bang without cluttering the gym, avoid handling sand and other fillers, or worry about damaging the floor. This increase in design would also allow for more widespread use of this type of lift in team and personal training settings by using a Stealth Weight Lifting (SWL) weight plate for stowage.

As shown in FIG. 16, according to one example, the weight plate can be readily used to manufacture adjustable fitness balls that complement existing fitness equipment. Fig. 16A-16F show different perspective views of a "stead ball" in a specific example of using the techniques of the present invention. As shown, the Stealth ball, intended to be an accessory to the Stealth weight plate, consists of two hemispheres with a maximum outer diameter of about 455mm to match the diameter of the corresponding plate. These hemispheres are made of elastomeric material and are internally supported and fixed by a set of threaded connectors of variable length, the central diameter of which is 2 "(5.08 cm). If the user wants to add weight, a longer connector may be provided.

As shown in fig. 16A-16C and 16E, the hemispherical sides may have space to place logos, trademarks, trade dress, or other information. Fig. 16H is an exploded side view of the Stealth ball in one example, showing the main components: two hemispheres, one or more weight plates (two in this case shown), and a threaded connector. Figure 16G shows an exploded perspective view of the stead ball showing the use of sound absorbing material for the corresponding stead plate. Figure 16F is a side view of the assembled spare steadh ball. Various design modifications, including size (larger or smaller diameter), shape (the sphere may be replaced with another shape), weight (multiple additional plates), will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Fig. 17 is an exploded variation of a quiet steadh ball in one example. The figure shows how a Stealth ball is assembled using two Stealth Weight Lifting (SWL) boards. First, the user can determine the required weight and select the correct length connector to use with the SWL weight plate. Next, the user can screw the length of the connector into one of the hemispheres and load the required weight. Finally, the user can screw the second hemisphere without leaving a gap between the inner surface of the ball and the bogie plate

Fig. 18 is a fully assembled variation of the quiet steadh ball of fig. 17.

As noted above, the size, shape, and weight may vary widely in different examples. One such possibility that has been assembled includes the following design numbers: possible exemplary weight loading of the Stealth ball: hemisphere-4.5 lb (2.041166 kg); threaded connector-1 lb (0.4535924 kg); 2x45lb (20.41166 kg) plate-90 lb (40.82331 kg); hemisphere-4.5 lb (0.4535924 kg); in total: 100lb (45.35924 kg). In other examples, different sizes and weights of exercise equipment may be used.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. Therefore, it is understood that the invention disclosed herein is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An improved weight plate comprising a rim, a body, and a collar having a central opening, further comprising:

at least one elastomeric material having a hardness equal to or less than the body hardness and forming at least a portion of the rim, the at least one elastomeric material forming a first bumper region in the rim including spaced apart holes therein configured to absorb noise generated when the improved bogie plate is lowered on a hard surface;

wherein the outlet openings of at least some of the spaced apart holes are arranged along two or more circles in the center of the collar, an

Wherein the opening in the center of the collar is configured to receive one end of a rod for lifting the improved weight plate.

2. The improved load bearing plate of claim 1, wherein said at least one elastomeric material forms a second damper region in said body, the second damper region including spaced apart apertures configured to absorb noise, and one or more circled outlet apertures along a center of the collar.

3. The improved load board of claim 1, wherein said spaced apart apertures are at least one of hexagonal, circular, square, triangular, trapezoidal, or irregular in shape.

4. The improved weight plate as recited in claim 1, wherein the spaced apart holes in one of said two or more circles are larger than the spaced apart holes in the other of said two or more circles.

5. The improved weight plate of claim 1, wherein the first bumper region at the improved weight plate rim includes a contact surface configured to contact the hard surface when the improved weight plate is lowered or rested, and at least one of the spaced apart holes in the at least one elastomeric material extends parallel to the hard surface when the improved weight plate is rested.

6. The improved weight plate of claim 1, wherein the radius of the improved weight plate is greater than or equal to 222.25mm.

7. The improved weight plate of claim 2, wherein at least one of the first shock absorber region in the rim and the second shock absorber region in the body contains two concentric circles of outlet aperture openings configured to absorb noise spaced apart apertures.

8. The improved load bearing plate of claim 1, wherein said spaced apart holes comprise at least one through hole passing completely through said at least one elastomeric material.

9. The improved weight plate of claim 1, wherein the opening in the center of the collar configured to receive one end of a rod for lifting the improved weight plate has a radius of 1 inch (25.4 mm).

10. The improved load board of claim 1, wherein said at least one elastomeric material is one or more of rubber, pressed crumb rubber, polyurethane, or mixtures thereof.

11. The improved load bearing plate as recited in claim 1, wherein at least some of said spaced holes have a cross-sectional width greater than 12.7mm.

12. The improved load board of claim 1, wherein said at least one elastomeric material has a hardness in the range of 60 to 90.

13. The improved weight plate as described in claim 1, wherein said first bumper region in said rim containing spaced apart holes therein has a radial dimension in the range of 0.5 to 1.5 inches (12.7 to 38.1 mm).

14. The improved weight plate as recited in claim 1, wherein said spaced apart apertures are separated by a resilient wall having a thickness in the range of 0.13 inch to 0.5 inch (3.301 mm to 12.7 mm).

15. The improved weight plate of claim 2, wherein the spaced apart holes in the body in the second bumper region are located about 5 to 7.5 inches (127 to 190.5 mm) from an edge of the improved weight plate configured to contact the hard surface when the improved weight plate is lowered.

16. The improved weight plate set of claim 1, comprising two or more pairs of improved weight plates, wherein each pair of improved weight plates has the same weight, and at least two pairs of improved weight plates in the set have different weights.

17. The barbell comprises a bar and at least one pair of improved weight plates as claimed in claim 1, each pair of said improved weight plates having equal weight and being connected at opposite ends of the bar, wherein each end of the bar is designed to fit into an opening in the centre of the collar of each improved weight plate.

18. An improved weight plate comprising a rim, a body, and a collar having a central opening, further comprising:

at least one elastomeric material having a hardness equal to or lower than the rim hardness and forming at least a portion of the body, the at least one elastomeric material forming a first bumper region in the body including spaced apart apertures therein configured to absorb noise generated when the improved bogie plate is lowered on a hard surface;

wherein the outlet openings of at least some of the spaced apart holes are arranged along one or more circles in the center of the collar, an

19. The improved load plate as recited in claim 18, wherein said spaced apart apertures are at least one of hexagonal, circular, square, triangular, trapezoidal, or irregular in shape.

20. The improved load bearing plate of claim 18, wherein at least a portion of said spaced apart apertures in said body in said first bumper region are through holes passing completely through said at least one elastomeric material.

21. The improved load bearing plate of claim 18, wherein at least a portion of said spaced holes in said first damper region in said body partially pass through said at least one elastomeric material.

22. The improved load board of claim 18, wherein at least two partially through holes open in opposite directions.

23. The improved load board of claim 18, wherein said at least one elastomeric material is one or more of rubber, pressed crumb rubber, polyurethane, or mixtures thereof.

24. The improved load board of claim 18, wherein said at least one elastomeric material has a hardness in the range of 60 to 90.

25. The improved weight plate as recited in claim 18, wherein the rim and the body of the improved weight plate are made of the same resilient material.

26. The improved weight plate as recited in claim 18, comprising at least two resilient materials having different durometers.

27. An improved weight plate comprising a rim, a body, and a collar having a central opening, further comprising:

wherein the outlet openings of at least some of the spaced apart holes are arranged along two or more circles in the centre of the collar,

wherein the opening in the center of the collar is configured to receive one end of a rod for lifting the improved weight plate, an

Wherein the spaced apart holes are located about 0.06 to 0.25 inches (1.524 to 6.35 mm) from an edge of the modified weight plate configured to contact the hard surface when the modified weight plate is lowered.