Selector weight plate

Abstract

The selector weight plate includes a weight, preferably made from a metal, and a elastometric cover that completely encases the weight, which is designed to be used on standard stationary selector weightlifting machines. The weight is equipped with a central vertical aperture, for receiving the center post of the weighting machine, and two offset vertical apertures for receiving the guide rails provided on the weightlifting machine. The weight also has a pair horizontal apertures used to receive a selector pin that locks a series of selector weight plates in place. The elastometric cover is included through the vertical apertures and is provided to help prevent the deterioration of the metal weight and to help prevent loud noises that occur when successive weight plates strike one another during the course of a exercise routine.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/566,874, filed Apr. 28, 2004.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to weightlifting equipment, and more specifically to a selector weight plate for use with weightlifting machines that require a selector weight stack.

2. Description of the Related Art

Weightlifting has become an extremely common form of physical exercise. Weightlifters have many options when it comes to choosing which equipment is best suited to perform their exercises. Most weightlifting centers provide stationary weightlifting machines, as well as free weights. Stationary weightlifting machines are usually in the form of selector machines that operate using a weight stack that is made up of steel plates, allowing the user to select a weight amount to perform a specific exercise. These plates are selected using a weight stack pin that is placed into the selector plate itself, allowing for that particular plate, as well as any above it, to be included in the chosen exercise.

Generally, these selector weight plates are made of painted steel. Over time, these plates begin to chip, fade, rust, and become aesthetically unpleasing. Also, these plates make a tremendous amount of noise as an exercise is conducted and the plates bang against one another. Additionally, the flattened nature of these plates make them susceptible to becoming stuck to one another as lubricant applied to the guide rods on the weightlifting machine leaks onto the surface of the plates.

There is a need for a weight selector plate that is more visually appealing and prevents the deterioration of the structural integrity of the plates. There is a further need for a weight selector plate that prevents successive plates from being stuck to one another. Thus, a selector weight plate solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The selector weight plate of the present invention includes a weight, preferably made from steel or cast iron, and a elastometric cover that completely encases the weight, which is designed to be used on standard stationary selector weightlifting machines.

The weight is equipped with a central vertical aperture, for receiving the center post of the weighting machine, and two offset vertical apertures for receiving the guide rails provided on the weightlifting machine. The weight also has a pair horizontal apertures used to receive a selector pin that locks a series of selector weight plates in place. The elastometric cover is included through the vertical apertures and is provided to help prevent the deterioration of the metal weight and to help prevent loud noises that occur when successive weight plates strike one another during the course of a exercise routine.

To assist in the easy interlocking of successive plates, the cover may be equipped with protrusions around the vertical apertures along the top side of the plates and mating indentions around the vertical apertures along the bottom side of the plates.

Also, the portion of the cover that encases the bottom side of the weight may be further equipped with a means to help prevent successive plates from becoming stuck to one another due to lubricant than may have leaked from off of the guide rails. One such means is to provide the cover with a series of channels along the bottom side. Another such means is to provide the bottom side of the cover with a series of raised surfaces, preferably in a honeycomb pattern. Either such means prevents the flat surfaces of successive plates from fully contacting one another, thereby preventing the plates from suctioning and sticking to one another.

These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view with a partial cut-a-way of a selector weight plate according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a selector weight plate according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front plan view of a selector weight plate according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view with a partial cut-a-way of a selector weight plate according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view with a partial cut-a-way of a selector weight plate according to the present invention.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is a selector weight plate for use with a selector weightlifting machine, designated generally as 10 in the drawings.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3 of the drawings, selector weight plate 10 includes weight member 30 encased by cover 20. Selector weight plate 10 is provided with a central vertical aperture 22 therethrough. Central vertical aperture 22 is provided for receiving the center, weight plate holding post found on standard selector weightlifting machines. Selector weight plate 10 is also provided with a pair of offset vertical apertures 24 therethrough. Offset vertical apertures 24 are equally spaced from center vertical aperture 22 and are provided to receive the guide rails found on a standard selector weightlifting machines for helping to provide linear vertical movement of the selector weight plates 10 during an exercise routine.

Selector weight plate 10 is further provided with a pair of horizontal apertures 26 with each aperture 26 extending from an edge of selector weight plate 10 to the central vertical aperture 22 perpendicular to the central vertical aperture 22. Horizontal apertures 26 are provided to receive a standard selector pin used to lock a desired number of plates in place on a standard selector weightlifting machine.

Cover 20 encases weight member 30 such that access to central vertical aperture 22, offset vertical apertures 24, and horizontal apertures 26 is still available. Cover 20 is included through central vertical aperture 22 and offset vertical apertures 24. In a preferred embodiment, cover 20 is provided with a series of protrusions 28 surrounding central vertical aperture 22 and offset vertical apertures 24 along the top side of selector weight plate 10 and a corresponding series of indentions 32 surrounding central vertical aperture 22 and offset vertical apertures 24 along the bottom side of selector weight plate 10. Protrusions 28 and indentions 32 allows a series of selector weight plates 10 to rest upon one another in an interlocking fashion, providing for easier use.

FIG. 4 shows a first alternate embodiment of selector weight plate 10 where cover 20 is provided with a series of channels 34 located along the bottom side of selector weight plate 10. Channels 34 provide a way for lubricant that has leaked from the guide rails on a standard selector weightlifting machine to be removed from the bottom surface of the weight selector plate 10, thereby preventing successive plates from becoming stuck to one another during an exercise routine.

FIG. 5 shows a second alternate embodiment of selector weight plate 10 where cover 20 is provided with a series of raised surfaces 36, preferably in a honeycomb pattern, located along the bottom side of selector weight plate 10. Raised surfaces 36 provide a way to prevent successive plates from being stuck to one another by helping to prevent the plates from making flush contact with one another.

In the preferred embodiment, weight member 30 is rectangular in shape and is constructed out of steel or cast iron. In the preferred embodiment, cover 20 is constructed out of an elastometric material, preferably polyurethane.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A selector weight plate for use with a selector weightlifting machine, comprising:

a weight member having a top side and a bottom side, the weight member having a central vertical aperture therethrough and a pair of offset vertical apertures therethrough and a pair of horizontal apertures, each horizontal aperture extending from an edge of the weight member to the central vertical aperture perpendicular to the central vertical aperture; and

a cover, wherein the cover completely encases the weight member while still allowing access to the central vertical aperture and the pair of offset vertical apertures and the pair of horizontal apertures.

2. The selector weight plate for use with a selector weightlifting machine according to claim 1, wherein the cover is made from an elastomer.

3. The selector weight plate for use with a selector weightlifting machine according to claim 1, wherein the cover is made from polyurethane.

4. The selector weight plate for use with a selector weightlifting machine according to claim 1, wherein the cover is provided with a plurality of protrusions along the portion of the cover encasing the top side of the weight member, each protrusion surrounding one of the vertical apertures in the weight member.

5. The selector weight plate for use with a selector weightlifting machine according to claim 4, wherein the cover is provided with a plurality of indentions along the portion of the cover encasing the bottom side of the weight member, each indention surrounding one of the vertical apertures in the weight member.

6. The selector weight plate for use with a selector weightlifting machine according to claim 5, wherein the cover is provided with a plurality of channels along the portion of the cover encasing the bottom side of the weight member.

7. The selector weight plate for use with a selector weightlifting machine according to claim 5, wherein the cover is provided with a plurality of raised surfaces along the portion of the cover encasing the bottom side of the weight member.

8. A selector weight plate for use with a selector weightlifting machine, comprising:

a weight member having a top side and a bottom side, the weight member having a central vertical aperture therethrough and a pair of offset vertical apertures therethrough and a pair of horizontal apertures, each horizontal aperture extending from an edge of the weight member to the central vertical aperture perpendicular to the central vertical aperture; and

a cover, wherein the cover completely encases the weight member while still allowing access to the central vertical aperture and the pair of offset vertical apertures and the pair of horizontal apertures, the cover being made from an elastomer.

9. The selector weight plate for use with a selector weightlifting machine according to claim 8, wherein the cover is made from polyurethane.

10. The selector weight plate for use with a selector weightlifting machine according to claim 8, wherein the cover is provided with a plurality of protrusions along the portion of the cover encasing the top side of the weight member, each protrusion surrounding one of the vertical apertures in the weight member.

11. The selector weight plate for use with a selector weightlifting machine according to claim 10, wherein the cover is provided with a plurality of indentions along the portion of the cover encasing the bottom side of the weight member, each indention surrounding one of the vertical apertures in the weight member.

12. The selector weight plate for use with a selector weightlifting machine according to claim 11, wherein the cover is provided with a plurality of channels along the portion of the cover encasing the bottom side of the weight member.

13. The selector weight plate for use with a selector weightlifting machine according to claim 1 1, wherein the cover is provided with a plurality of raised surfaces along the portion of the cover encasing the bottom side of the weight member.

14. A selector weight plate for use with a selector weightlifting machine, comprising:

a rectangular weight member having a top side and a bottom side, the rectangular weight member having a central vertical aperture therethrough and a pair of offset vertical apertures therethrough and a pair of horizontal apertures, each horizontal aperture extending from an edge of the rectangular weight member to the central vertical aperture perpendicular to the central vertical aperture;

a cover, wherein the cover completely encases the rectangular weight member while still allowing access to the central vertical aperture and the pair of offset vertical apertures and the pair of horizontal apertures, the cover being made from an elastomer;

a plurality of protrusions along the portion of the cover encasing the top side of the rectangular weight member, each protrusion surrounding one of the vertical apertures in the rectangular weight member; and

a plurality of indentions along the portion of the cover encasing the bottom side of the rectangular weight member, each indention surrounding one of the vertical apertures in the rectangular weight member.

15. The selector weight plate for use with a selector weightlifting machine according to claim 14, wherein the cover is made from polyurethane.

16. The selector weight plate for use with a selector weightlifting machine according to claim 14, wherein the cover is provided with a plurality of channels along the portion of the cover encasing the bottom side of the rectangular weight member.

17. The selector weight plate for use with a selector weightlifting machine according to claim 1 4, wherein the cover is provided with a plurality of raised surfaces along the portion of the cover encasing the bottom side of the rectangular weight member.