Stackable weight system

Abstract

Stackable weight plates comprised of a front and a rear lateral faces with a protrusion at a proximal radial center of the front lateral face and corresponding recess at a proximal radial center of the rear lateral face is provided. The rear lateral face with the recess section at the proximal radial center of a top weight plate in a stack may rest (or be stacked) on the front lateral face with the protrusion at a proximal radial center of another weight plate. Because each plate is restrained along its center axis by the mating or interlocking of the protruded area of one plate with the recessed area of another weight plate, the stacked plates are therefore generally stable and do not fall due to lateral shearing of the stack. When mounted on a handle bar to form an inertial force exercise device, the recessed area of the rear lateral face of the weight plates of the present invention house the mounting or fastener mechanism.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001] The present application claims priority from related U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60 / 417,310, filed Oct. 9, 2002, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002] 1) Field of the Invention[0003] The present invention relates generally to exercise devices, and in particular to weight plates used in weight training.[0004] 2) Description of Related Art[0005] Dumbbells and barbells are inertial force exercise devices with dense body extremities or weight plates. They comprise of a central handle bar for griping the devices, with weight plates attached at or near both ends of the bar. In general, the weight plates may comprise of removable weight plates so that different or additional plates may be attached as desired to vary the weight of the device. Dumbbells and barbells with non-removable weight plates comprise of plates permanently attached to their central handle bar....

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] Stackable weight plates comprised of a front and a rear lateral faces with a protrusion at a proximal radial center of the front lateral face and corresponding recess at a proximal radial center of the rear lateral face is provided. The rear lateral face with the recess section at the proximal radial center of a top weight plate in a stack rests (or is stacked) on the front lateral face with the protrusion at a proximal radial center of another bottom weight plate for a column stacking of the plates. Because each plate is restrained along its center axis by the mating or interlocking of the protruded area of one plate with the recessed area of another weight plate, the stacked plates are therefore generally stable and do not fall due to lateral shearing of the stack.

[0010] When mounted on a handle bar to form an inertial force exercise device, the recessed area of the rear lateral side of the weight plates of the present invention face outward, and house the mounting or fastener mechanism. This way, the mounting mechanism, which may comprise of a fastener and a retention washer, would not protrude from the surface of the plate. This would enable the user of the inertial force exercise device to rest the device on their body without pain or discomfort usually associated with the protruding retention washers of the prior art. In addition, the inertial force exercise device may independently be rested on the floor along the axis of the handle bar perpendicular to the floor. The protruded hubs at the front lateral side of the weight plates, face inward when mounted, and hence create additional space or length between the front lateral faces of the inner most plates in a mounted position on the handle bar. This added space or length between the front lateral faces of the inner most plates allows for a greater range of motion along the axis of the inertial force exercise device for the user wrist, and reduces the possibility of injury if the wrist was to come in contact with the inner most plates.

Problems solved by technology

Inherent to most weight training equipment is the fact that they are bulky, difficult to balance and control, and dangerous to handle as the amount of weight increases since users handling them can easily lose control and drop the devices, especially when they have exercised for a while and are fatigued.

Although floor stacking (or storage) of weight plates is more space efficient, the vertical column of multiple stacked plates on top of one another tends collapse.

The protruding end-caps positioned beneath the mass of the dumbbell are uncomfortable for resting the dumbbell on a user's body.

Further more, the protruding end-caps make it difficult to position the dumbbell on either axial end, normal to the ground.

This inability to stand the dumbbell vertically along its axis perpendicular to the ground on one end is inherently due to the reduced flat surface area caused by the protruding end-caps, and hence a lack of support for vertical standing of the dumbbell.

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