Weight Training Equipment With Elastomeric Noise Absorption

Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional weight training equipment, such as bumper plates, face a tradeoff between noise reduction and bounce control, with low durometer elastomers being quiet but causing high bounce and high durometer elastomers being loud and damaging to floors, necessitating a design that minimizes both noise and bounce impact.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a high-durometer material combined with elastomeric material of lower durometer, featuring spaced holes for noise absorption, which can be positioned on the outer or inner portion of the weight object, and includes a handle for lifting, with the elastomeric material being molded to provide additional shock absorption without increasing bounce.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-generated harmful factors

If low durometer elastomers are used, then noise is reduced, but bounce increases leading to injury risk

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovenoiseVSAvoidbounce control

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The bumper plate uses different durometer materials in different regions: high-durometer (90-95) in the center for bounce control and low-durometer (60-70) in the outer circumference for noise reduction. This local differentiation allows each region to optimize for its specific function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The bumper plate is constructed as a composite structure combining multiple elastomeric materials with different durometers in a single plate, allowing simultaneous achievement of noise reduction and bounce control properties that cannot be obtained with a single material.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If high durometer elastomers are used, then bounce is reduced, but noise increases to over 130 dB

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebounce controlVSAvoidnoise

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The bumper plate uses different durometer materials in different regions: high-durometer (90-95) in the center for bounce control and low-durometer (60-70) in the outer circumference for noise reduction. This local differentiation allows each region to optimize for its specific function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The bumper plate is constructed as a composite structure combining multiple elastomeric materials with different durometers in a single plate, allowing simultaneous achievement of noise reduction and bounce control properties that cannot be obtained with a single material.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Reliability

If high durometer weights are used, then bounce is reduced, but floor damage increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebounce controlVSAvoidfloor damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The bumper plate uses different durometer materials in different regions: high-durometer (90-95) in the center for bounce control and low-durometer (60-70) in the outer circumference for noise reduction. This local differentiation allows each region to optimize for its specific function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The bumper plate is constructed as a composite structure combining multiple elastomeric materials with different durometers in a single plate, allowing simultaneous achievement of noise reduction and bounce control properties that cannot be obtained with a single material.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This configuration significantly reduces noise and bounce impact, minimizing damage to floors while maintaining effective shock absorption, as demonstrated by decibel level reductions in testing.

Implementation Method 1

spaced holes within the elastomeric material for absorbing noise generated when the weight object is dropped on the ground surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNoise absorption: Acoustic Absorption

Implementation Method 2

used in such equipment are relatively quiet, but they have a high bounce which can lead to injury. High durometer elastomers (e.g. 90) have a low bounce

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectShock absorption: Damping

Data Source

PatentUS11666793B2Modified weight training equipment

Publication Date: 2023.06.06 SOUND SHORE INNOVATIONS LLC

AI summary

A weight object configured to be lifted from a ground surface includes a first portion made of high-durometer material, a second portion made of elastomeric material having lower durometer than the first portion, and a handle for holding the weight object and lifting the object from the ground surface, where the second portion includes spaced holes within the elastomeric material for absorbing noise generated when the weight object is dropped on the ground surface. Alternatively, a weight object is disclosed which is configured to be lifted from a ground surface, comprising at least one layer of elastomeric material having spaced holes therein for absorbing noise generated when the weight object is dropped on the ground surface, and an opening configured to receive a handle. Slip over variations are disclosed for mounting sound absorbers to existing weight lifting equipment. In alternate examples, medicine balls, atlas stones or like weight lifting equipment can be created using sound absorbers for improved experience.