U.S. patent application number 10/787042 was filed with the patent office on 2005-03-10 for coated weight plates, dumbbells and method of manufacture.
Invention is credited to Harms, Robert E., Segovia, Eugenio JR..
Application Number | 20050054496 10/787042 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32927590 |
Filed Date | 2005-03-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050054496 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Harms, Robert E. ; et
al. |
March 10, 2005 |
Coated weight plates, dumbbells and method of manufacture
Abstract
The present invention is a clear coating on a weight for a
dumbbell, a dumbbell having weights having a clear coating, and the
process for coating a weight on a dumbbell with a clear coating.
The invention includes the painting or other coloration of the
weights before placing the clear coating on the dumbbell. Also, the
invention includes the use of decals on the weight before the clear
coating is placed on the dumbbell. In addition, the invention is a
method of advertising on a weight plate.
Inventors: |
Harms, Robert E.; (Houston,
TX) ; Segovia, Eugenio JR.; (Bellville, TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MALIN HALEY AND DIMAGGIO, PA
1936 S ANDREWS AVENUE
FORT LAUDERDALE
FL
33316
US
|
Family ID: |
32927590 |
Appl. No.: |
10/787042 |
Filed: |
February 25, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60449886 |
Feb 25, 2003 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/106 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B44C 1/17 20130101; A63B
2209/00 20130101; B05D 7/53 20130101; A63B 21/0726 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/106 |
International
Class: |
A63B 021/06 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A weight assembly for a dumbbell, comprising: a weight plate; a
first coating applied to at least a portion of the weight plate;
and an at least partially transparent second coating applied over
the first coating.
2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first coating comprises a
coloring agent.
3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the second coating is
substantially clear, whereby the first coating is at least
partially visible through the second coating.
4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the second coating comprises
polyurethane.
5. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the first coating is adapted to
provide advertising.
6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the advertising is a corporate
logo.
7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first coating is one or
more of the following: paint and powder coat.
8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the second coating further
comprises a UV protection chemical element.
9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the second coating is adapted
for receiving a dumbbell handle.
10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the weight plate is adapted
for receiving a dumbbell handle.
11. A weight assembly for a dumbbell, comprising: a weight plate; a
decal applied to at least a portion of the weight plate; and an at
least partially transparent second coating applied over the
decal.
12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the decal is comprised of a
vinyl material.
13. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the second coating is
substantially clear, whereby the decal is at least partially
visible through the second coating.
14. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the second coating comprises
polyurethane.
15. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the second coating is adapted
for receiving a dumbbell handle.
16. A dumbbell comprising: a handle; and a plurality of weight
assemblies, each assembly comprising: a weight plate; a first
coating applied to at least a portion of the weight plate; and an
at least partially transparent second coating applied over the
first coating.
17. A dumbbell comprising: a handle; and a plurality of weight
assemblies, each assembly comprising: a weight plate; a decal
applied to at least a portion of the weight plate; and an at least
partially transparent second coating applied over the decal.
18. A method for forming a weight assembly for a dumbbell,
comprising the steps of: providing a weight plate; coating the
weight plate with an at least partially transparent material;
providing means for attaching the coated weight plate to a
handle.
19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of applying
a decal to the weight plate before the step of coating the weight
plate.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein a design is placed on the
weight plate before the step of coating the weight plate.
Description
[0001] THIS APPLICATION CLAIMS PRIORITY TO PROVISIONAL
PATENT-APPLICATION SERIAL No. 60/449,886, FILED ON FEB. 25,
2003.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention relates generally to the field of weights and
dumbbells. The invention especially relates to decoration and
advertising placed upon a weight plate and the addition of an at
least partially clear coating to the weight.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] In the prior art, logos were placed on dumbbells in a
variety of expensive ways. Logos or advertising could not be placed
on the weights as decals, since the decals would be abused by the
use of the exercise equipment. Also, the decals would not stick to
a preferred polyurethane coating. In addition, if a manufacturer
wanted to color the weight heads, or paint them, the coloring would
be dirtied, faded or torn by the use of the weights.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In standard practice in the industry, the dumbbell is
created with a thin coating of black polyurethane on the weight
plates. Next, a logo is applied. Because of the "wax-paper" surface
characteristics of polyurethane, it is difficult to place decals,
silk-screening, paint or similar materials on the surface of the
weight plates. Thus, a logo could only be placed on a weight head
by having the logo in the mold or by having it machined or engraved
on the plate.
[0007] It is known to inject or fill a void with white or colored
urethane to form letters on a weight plate. However, in using this
process, it is important to remove all mold release from the voids
after each use. Otherwise, the colored letters will not adhere to
the black urethane. Alternatively, a weight plate may be machined
so-that a logo is in a void. Then a different color urethane is
injected or filled into the void to form a logo.
[0008] Also, in the industry it is known to simply machine a logo
directly into the weight plate using one or more steps of machining
for each color of urethane. This method is extremely expensive and
time consuming. Furthermore, it is limiting in the amount of detail
which may be included in a logo. Furthermore, it would be extremely
difficult to apply the logo on the inside face of a weight plate on
a dumbbell.
[0009] In addition, colored dumbbells with a polyurethane surface
in the prior art are prohibitively expensive. Each time a colored
dumbbell is desired a manufacturer would have to purge its
injection machines and insert the desired colors, consuming
valuable manufacturing time.
[0010] It is the object of the present invention to make it
possible to have detailed, colorful logos on weight plates and
dumbbells.
[0011] It is a further object of this invention to allow the
inexpensive production of colored dumbbells.
[0012] It is a further object of this invention to make colored
dumbbells with a protective coating.
[0013] It is a further objective of this invention to have weight
plates and dumbbells with decals that are permanently affixed,
protected and visible.
[0014] In accordance with these and other objectives which will be
apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described
with particular reference to the accompanying drawings. The
drawings constitute a part of this specification and include
exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate
various objects and features thereof.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0015] FIG. 1 is a cut away perspective view of the preferred
embodiment of the invention.
[0016] FIG. 1a is a cut away perspective view of the preferred
embodiment having a dark colored weight plate.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a prior art invention.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a prior art invention and a
typical prior art logo for the prior art invention.
[0019] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of alternative embodiments of
the invention next to a prior art invention.
[0020] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of
the invention.
[0021] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of
the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022] The present invention is a clear coating on a weight on a
dumbbell, a dumbbell having weights having a clear coating, and the
process for coating a weight on a dumbbell with a clear coating.
The invention includes the painting or other coloration of the
weights on a dumbbell before placing the clear coating on the
dumbbell. Also, the invention includes the use of decals on the
weight before the clear coating is placed on the dumbbell. In
addition, the invention is a method of advertising on a weight
plate.
[0023] In the preferred embodiment, a dumbbell of the preferred
embodiment is shown in FIGS. 1 and 1a at 10. The weight plate 12 is
provided, and may be colored in a preferred hue. The coloring is
preferred to be a powder coat or paint but may be some other agent
known in the art. The paint is preferably sprayed onto the plate
12. Optionally, the plate may be covered with a clear paint. In an
alternative embodiment, a design or logo is painted onto the weight
plate itself. The weight plate is preferred to be metal which has
been forged, cast or machined. However, other manufacturing methods
and appropriate materials may be used as is known in the art. Also,
it is preferred that the weight is in a generally round shape as
shown in FIGS. 1-6. A weight plate 12 is placed on either end of a
handle 14. The handle may be of any useful shape and texture, but
the Tri-Bar handle used by TKO Sports, Inc. is preferred. The
handle is preferably welded to the weight plates. However, it may
also be threaded, pinned or press fit to the plates 12, or attached
in other methods known in the art.
[0024] Then, if desired, one or more decals 16 are placed on the
weight plate. It is preferred that the decals are on the far end 18
of the plate 12 so it can be viewed easily. However, as shown in
FIGS. 1 and 1a, decals 16 may also be placed on the inside surface
20 or on the perimeter 22 of the weight plate 12. The decals are
preferred to be of a vinyl material, but any other generally heat
resistant material may also be used. Also, it is preferred that the
decal material keeps the colors on the decal from running.
[0025] The weight plates 12 are then covered with a clear coating
24. The coating protects the weight plate 12 and allows the decals
16 to be seen. Also, if the weight plate is colored, or if there is
a painted design on the weight plate it may be seen through the
clear coating. While it is preferred that the coating is clear;
however, the coating may be translucent and colored if desired. It
may also be preferred to include a UV protection chemical element
into the polyurethane.
[0026] The coating is preferred to be polyurethane, such as that
manufactured by Anderson Development Company, Inc., Uniroyal or
Airproducts. The polyurethane is preferably placed on the weight
plate using a low-pressure polyurethane dispensing machine, such as
one produced by Ureflex-Baule. The urethane may alternatively be
placed on the weight plates using an injection molding system,
using a mold that does not use an injection system, or using a
spray method directly spraying the coating onto the weight plates.
In using a mold system wherein the polyurethane is poured directly
into a mold containing the weight plate to be covered, it is
preferred that the polyurethane is poured at a temperature of
approximately 150-200 degrees Fahrenheit. Equivalent polyurethane
may be used which cures at a lower temperature such as room
temperature. Either weight plates 12 may be covered simultaneously,
or each plate 12 may be covered individually.
[0027] In one embodiment a weight plate is covered with
polyurethane before the handle is attached. The weight plate 12 has
a threaded internal bore and a threaded plug member having threads
which extend beyond the threading within the plate 12 is placed
within the bore. The polyurethane is then poured over the weight
plate 12 and at least a portion of the plug member. When the
polyurethane has cooled, the plug is removed, and threading is left
within the polyurethane extending above the threading within the
bore of the weight plate a threaded handle is then placed through
the threading in the polyurethane and preferably through the
threading in the weight plate. However, other equivalent methods of
molding the polyurethane onto the weights before the handle is
attached are known in the art.
[0028] FIG. 2 reveals a prior art dumbbell 26 without clear
coating. The text written on the weight plates may be marred by
normal use. Furthermore, if the weights were merely painted, the
plates could be marked, or the colors could rub off onto surfaces
in the gymnasium.
[0029] FIG. 3 reveals an expensive design 28 painted on a dumbbell
of the prior art 26. Each color of the design 28 was placed on the
weight plate 26 using a separate step. However, using the current
invention, the design may be placed on a decal. The decal process
is much less expensive; and more highly detailed designs may be
placed on the decal. After it is covered with polyurethane, the
decal may be seen through the protective coating.
[0030] FIG. 4 illustrates three dumbbells, including one prior art
dumbbell 26 and one dumbbell embodying the present invention 10. As
shown, the painting applied to the weight plate 12 as well as
decals 16 can bee seen clearly through the polyurethane
coating.
[0031] FIGS. 5 and 6 reveal the finished product of the present
invention. As shown, the clear coating improves the ability to
design or decorate a weight plate whether it is a traditional dark
color 30 or a bright color 32 underneath.
[0032] Alternatively, the steps for creating a dumbbell pursuant to
the present invention are as follows. First the handle is selected.
The handle is preferred to be steel, and may be knurled, flats,
chromed, black oxide, or be of any other useful shape or finish
known in the art. Next, the dumbbell head is created. The head is
preferred to be metal and manufactured as described above. Next,
the head is prepared for coating. It can be powder coated or
otherwise painted, chromed or sandblasted, with or without a clear
finish. Other finished known in the art may also be used.
[0033] In the next step, a decal, if desired, is placed on the
head. The decal can be of any desired image. The decal can be of
any color or mix of colors, high resolution graphics or actual
pictures. It may be preferred that the image is a computer image
which is placed on a decal using known printing techniques. If
needed, the decal is then cut before it is placed on the dumbbell
head.
[0034] Next, clear polyurethane is applied to the weight with the
decal as described above. If necessary, the polyurethane is then
trimmed after the dumbbell is removed from the mold.
[0035] Thus, the number of steps and the labor needed to make a
design on a weight plate is minimized. Furthermore, a dumbbell is
now available having a high quality design which can be seen though
a protective coating.
[0036] The instant invention has been shown and described herein in
what is considered to be the most practical and preferred
embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departure may be made
therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious
modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.
* * * * *