U.S. patent application number 10/283519 was filed with the patent office on 2003-05-01 for weight plate with hand grip.
Invention is credited to Landfair, Craig D..
Application Number | 20030083179 10/283519 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26962084 |
Filed Date | 2003-05-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030083179 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Landfair, Craig D. |
May 1, 2003 |
Weight plate with hand grip
Abstract
A weight lifting plate is provided with a pair of diametrically
opposed hand grips on each side of the plate, each hand grip formed
by recessed surfaces in each side surface of the plate and a
portion of the side surface which together provide a hand grip,
such that the weight plate can be grabbed and lifted from either
side thereof while the plate is resting against a flat surface such
as the floor or against another adjacent weight plate.
Inventors: |
Landfair, Craig D.;
(Ventura, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Kamran Fattahi, Esq.
Law Offices of Kamran Fattahi
Suite 330 (Bldg. 2)
6345 Balboa Blvd.
Encino
CA
91316
US
|
Family ID: |
26962084 |
Appl. No.: |
10/283519 |
Filed: |
October 30, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60336482 |
Oct 30, 2001 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
482/93 ;
482/107 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 2071/0063 20130101;
A63B 21/0601 20130101; A63B 21/072 20130101; A63B 21/06
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/93 ;
482/107 |
International
Class: |
A63B 021/075; A63B
021/072 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A weight plate used for physical fitness, comprising: an
integrally formed plate member having a circular opening in the
center thereof, a first side and a second side, and an outer
periphery between said first side and said second side; and a pair
of generally diametrically opposed hand grips formed from recessed
segments on said first side of said plate, each said recessed
segment having a cavity located between an upper surface of said
first side of said plate adjacent said outer periphery and a lower
surface of each said recessed segment.
2. A weight plate used for physical fitness, comprising: an
integrally formed plate member having a circular opening in the
center thereof, a first side and a second side, and an outer
periphery between said first side and said second side; a first
pair of generally diametrically opposed hand grips on said first
side of said plate, said first pair of hand grips formed from first
side recessed segments on said first side of said plate, with each
said first side recessed segment having a cavity located between an
upper surface of said first side of said plate adjacent said outer
periphery and a lower surface of each said first side recessed
segment; and a second pair of generally diametrically opposed hand
grips on said second side of said plate, said second pair of hand
grips formed from second side recessed segments on said second side
of said plate with each said second side recessed segment having a
cavity located between an upper surface of said second side of said
plate adjacent said outer periphery and a lower surface of each
said second side recessed segment.
Description
INFORMATION REGARDING RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the priority benefit of Provisional
Application Serial No. 60/336,482 filed Oct. 30, 2002, which is
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention generally relates to weight plates for the
sport of weight lifting.
[0003] Weight plates mounted on barbells or dumbbells are among one
of the most common and often used pieces of equipment by
individuals who are involved in the sport of weight lifting either
as a form of exercise to get in shape or to stay in shape, or as
serious body builders or weight lifters. The standard, common-place
weight plates that have been in existence for many years are
typically formed in the shape of a round disc with a round hole in
the center which allows a barbell (or sometimes a dumbbell) to
slide through the plate such that one or more plates can be placed
on two ends of the barbell. The user can grasp the barbell by both
hands and lift the barbell and the mounted weights in a variety of
ways and positions to perform different exercises (e.g., to perform
bench press, military press, squats, curls, etc.).
[0004] When a person wants to pick up a typical existing weight
plate to mount it onto a barbell (or dumbbell), if the weight plate
is laying on a flat surface such as the floor, due to the absence
of a handle or a hand grip on the plate, the individual will have a
difficult time picking the weight plate off of the flat surface,
since he or she cannot get a good grasp on the plate. In some
instances, the user may be able to slightly place his fingers under
the lower edges of the plate to begin lifting it only to have the
plate fall again and pinch the fingers or possibly cause injury to
him. The same problem of not having sufficient access or room for
the fingers to grab and move the existing weight plate exists when
weight plates are placed one next to another on existing racks that
have a round protruding rod sized to fit in the center hole of
weight plate to hold the wight plates on such racks. Also, if a
weight lifter wants to use the weight plate as an independent
exercise device, it is difficult to hold and lift the plate without
any handle or hand grip.
[0005] Accordingly, there is a need for a weight plate design that
enables the user to easily grab or grip the plate when the weight
plate is placed on either one of its two sides against a flat
surface such as the floor, or when several weight plates are placed
against each other on a barbell or on a weight rack. There is also
a need for such weight plate to have a design that allows the user
to easily grip the plate and use it as a stand-alone exercise
device. The present invention is intended to address these and
other drawbacks in existing weight plate designs and provides other
related advantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention provides a new and improved weight
plate, which includes a round opening in the center and two pairs
of hand grips on opposite sides of the plate. The pair of hand
grips on each side of the plate are positioned diametrically
opposite of each other, and the pair on one side are positioned
substantially at right angles from the pair of hand grips on the
other side of the plate. However, other relative positions and
angles can also be used without deviating from the principals of
the invention. In the present invention, each of the hand grips is
formed from recessed surfaces near the outer periphery of the plate
that form gripping handles therein such that the user can grasp one
of the hand grips with a single hand, or alternatively, can grasp a
pair of the hand grips on the desired side of the plate with two
hands. In the present invention, the presence of the pair of hand
grips on each side of the weight plate allows the weight lifter to
be able to grip and move the plate regardless of which side of the
plate is resting against a flat surface such as the floor or
another adjacent weight plate.
[0007] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken
in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by
way of example, the principles of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such
drawings:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a weight lifting plate embodying
the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a reduced size cross-sectional view of the weight
lifting plate of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, taken along
the line having reference letters A and C.
[0011] FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the cross-section
of the weight plate of the present invention taken along the line
having reference letters A and C, showing a first side of the
weight plate.
[0012] FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the weight plate
of the present invention, showing that portion of the plate between
the lines having reference letters B and C (counter-clockwise),
showing a substantial portion of the first side and a small portion
of a second side of the weight plate.
[0013] FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the weight plate
of the present invention, showing that portion of the plate between
the lines having reference letters D and C (counter-clockwise),
showing a substantial portion of the first side and a small portion
of the second side of the plate.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0014] As shown in exemplary drawings, a new and improved weight
plate is provided, wherein in the preferred embodiment, a plate 10
has a round shape with an outer periphery 12 and includes a round
opening 14 in the center thereof. As with existing weight plates,
the plate of the present invention has two sides, a first side 16
and a second side 18, and a uniform thickness "d" along the
periphery 12 between the first side 16 and the second side 18. The
plate 10 can be made from a variety of materials, such as steel
(with or without rubber or urethane coating) or other suitable
materials as known by those skilled in the art. As an alternative
to the preferred round shape, the plate 10 can be made with a
variety of other shapes (e.g., square, oval, etc.) having a variety
of weights so as to provide a range of choices of appropriate
weights to the weight lifter (e.g., 5, 10, 25, 35, or 45
pounds).
[0015] The first side 16 of the plate 10 is provided with a pair of
hand grips 20a and 20c that are positioned substantially
diametrically opposed from one another, and the formation of the
hand grips 20a and 20b is described next as follows: For ease of
explanation, the plate is descriptively divided into four sections
or quadrants identified by reference numbers 22a, 22b, 22c and 22d
on the first side 16 of the plate, and said four quadrants are also
identified by reference numbers 44a, 44b, 44c and 44d on the second
side 18 of the plate, wherein the quadrant 44a is positioned below
22a, 44b is below 22b, 44c is below 22c, and 44d is below 22d.
[0016] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, two of the opposite quadrants 22b
and 22d on the first side 16 have flat surfaces, while the hand
grips 20a and 20c are positioned and formed in the other two
opposite quadrants 22a and 22c on the first side 16 of the plate
near the periphery thereof. At each of the quadrants 22a and 22c, a
recessed cavity 24 having a modified triangular shape with a
reduced thickness is formed. The recessed cavity 24 in each
quadrant 22a and 22c begins near the round opening 14 at the center
of the plate 10 and extends along two side walls 26 and 28 until
the side walls reach a point short of the periphery 12 of the
plate, and from such point the third side 30 of the recessed cavity
follows a circular path along the periphery 12 of the plate. As
shown in FIGS. 3-5, as compared to the thickness "d" of the
periphery of the plate, the bottom surface of each recessed cavity
24 has two portions, a first portion 32 and a second stepped down
portion 34, wherein the first portion 32 has a thickness "d1" and
the second portion 34 has a thickness "d2". The thickness "d1" is
less than the thickness "d" of the periphery of the plate, and the
thickness "d2" is even further reduced from thickness "d1".
[0017] Each hand grip 20a and 20c is formed by having a lower wall
36 an upper wall 38 and a side wall 40. The lower wall 36 is
essentially the same as the second stepped down portion 34 of the
recessed cavity 24. As shown in FIG. 3, the upper wall 38 is formed
by a segment of the first side 16 of the plate in the first
quadrant 22a (in the case of the hand grip 20a) or in the third
quadrant (in the case of the hand grip 20c) that extends over the
second stepped down portion 34 of the recessed cavity 24. As such,
the weight lifter can place the four fingers (other than the thumb)
of each hand inside the hand grips 20a and 20c, and wrap his palms
over the upper wall 38 of the hand grips and around the periphery
of the plate to grab and lift the plate by two hands. If desired,
the weight lifter may also need only a single hand grip on one side
of the plate to lift the plate, which would obviously require more
force by the one lifting hand and arms.
[0018] While the above describes the specifics of the first side 16
of the plate and the formation of hand grips 20a and 20c on the
first side 16, with reference to FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, it can easily be
seen and understood that the second side 18 of the plate is similar
to the first side 16 with the following differences: In the first
side 16 the hand grips 20a and 20c are respectively formed in the
first quadrant 22a and the third quadrant 22c, with the surfaces of
the second and fourth quadrants 22b and 22d on the first side being
flat. However, in the second side 18 of the plate, a pair of
diametrically opposed hand grips 42b and 42d are formed
respectively in the second quadrant 44b and the fourth quadrant
44d, with the first and third quadrants 44a and 44c remaining flat.
In other respects, the second side 18 of the plate is the same as
the first side 16, and as explained, the only differences are that
the hand grips and recessed cavities in the second side are
positioned/rotated approximately ninety degrees away around the
round plate as compared with the hand grips and recessed cavities
on the first side of the plate.
[0019] The above-described and shown weight plate of the invention
may be used by mounting it onto a barbell or dumbbell, or it can
also be used as a stand-alone weight lifting equipment, wherein the
user would grab the plate by one or two hands and perform a variety
of exercises (somewhat similar to using a dumbbell). It should be
noted that one advantage of the present invention is that the plate
may be grabbed and lifted by the user from both sides thereof. In
other words, no matter which side of the plate is resting against
the floor or another plate mounted on a rack or on a barbell, since
both sides of the plate have hand grips, the user can grab and lift
the plate from the hand grips that are exposed to the user. As
such, when the user is done with the weight plate and wants to
place it back on the rack or place it on the floor, the user would
not have to worry about which side of the plate should be placed on
the rack or on the floor, given that both sides have hand grips,
and the exposed hand grips can later be used again to lift and move
the plate.
[0020] It will be appreciated by the reader that the invention
provides several advantages. The invention is simple and attractive
in design, and provides a weight plate with easy to grasp handles
or gripping areas formed in pairs of oppositely positioned recesses
on each side of the plate such that the handling or lifting of the
plate adjacent another flat surface can be easily and safely be
done by the user regardless of which side of the plate is exposed
to the user.
[0021] Although the preferred embodiment has been described in
detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be
made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.
By way of example, while not shown, it should be appreciated by
those skilled in the art that while the preferred embodiment of the
invention is shown and described with a pair of diametrically
opposed hand grips on each side of the weight plate, alternatively,
other numbers of hand grips such as three or four can be positioned
on each side of the plate. Also, if desired, only one side of the
plate can be provided with hand grips, although this would take
away from the ability of the user to grab and lift the plate from
either side thereof. Accordingly, the invention is not to be
limited, except as by the appended claims.
* * * * *