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

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

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