Weighted Exercise Sliding Device

Abstract

A weighted exercise slide device for use in performing a variety of exercise routines is comprised of a weight plate encapsulated within a layer of high density polyethylene. The upper surface of the device may be provided with a plurality of small shear connectors for aid in securing a gripping surface comprised of a layer of soft or friction enhanced material. The weight plate is of a standard overall dimension but the weight of the weight plate may be altered to allow for manufacture of a plurality of differently weighted exercise slide devices of a uniform shape and size from a single mold.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to exercise and fitness devices utilizing sliding plates or for use in performing a variety of exercise routines. More particularly, the invention relates to a weighted sliding device having a low friction sliding surface and a friction enhanced gripping or contact surface. The exercise device is configured so that sliding devices of varying weights may be manufactured without a change in overall size and shape of the device. Providing a plurality of sliding devices of varying weights will allow a user to tailor the sliding resistance force to satisfy a desired workout parameter without a change to the overall shape and feel of the device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Low friction slides are utilized as exercise devices to support a user as the user performs floor exercise routines with sliding movements of the hands or feet. These low friction slides have a bottom surface in contact with the floor that has a coefficient of friction selected to minimize the frictional resistance between the slide and the floor surface. The minimized frictional resistance will correspondingly minimize the sliding force necessary for the user to move the slide device along the floor during exercise routines. Such slide devices are typically small and lightweight makes them easy to transport and use.

However, there are times when it may be useful for a user to increase the sliding force necessary for the user to move the slide device along the floor during exercise routines in order to enhance the intensity and benefit of the exercise routines. Because consistency is important an important factor in maximizing the benefits and sought after results of floor exercises, such consistency is better obtained when the exercise slide devices have the same size and shape. Further, keep a consistent size and shape for the exercise slide devices will allow a user to become accustomed to the feel and use of the device which will reduce the risk of losing contact with and control of the device and the chance of a subsequent associated injury due to falling.

Further, other slide devices focus on reducing the sliding frictional resistance and not on increasing the force necessary to move the slide device when performing the exercises. Such devices provide no means to control the difficulty and intensity of the exercise being performed.

Consequently, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for an exercise slide device that will allow a user to perform floor exercises of a selected desired intensity while still maintaining the overall shape and size of the device in order to preserve consistency and familiarity with the device for the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a weighted exercise slide device having a weight plate enclosed within a surrounding layer of thermoplastic polymer material such as high density polyethylene (HDPE). The weight plate increases the sliding resistance of the weighted exercise slide device when compared to non-weighted exercise slide device. The surrounding layer of thermoplastic material gives the exercise slide device a low friction bottom sliding surface allowing a user to readily slide the device along a floor surface. A friction enhanced gripping surface is provided on the top surface of the slide device.

The friction enhanced gripping surface, such as a Dynaflex™ thermoplastic elastomer material that is overmolded, bonded or otherwise fixedly attached to the upper surface of the exercise device provides a gripping or contact surface to facilitate manipulation and control of the slide device even if the gripping surface of the device becomes wet or sweaty during an exercise routine. A plurality of shear connectors may be provided along the top surface of the device in contact with the layer of Dynaflex™ material. The shear connectors serve to enhance the bond between the layer of the Dynaflex™ material and the high density polyethylene top surface. A strap or handle may be attached to the exercise slide device to further enhance a user's contact with the device and allow for greater control of the device by the user.

Using a weight plate of a desired mass and overall dimension, will allow a weighted exercise slide device of a desired selected size and weight to be produced. The selected size and weight of the weight plate may then be utilized to produce a mold to create a standard weighted exercise slide device. A desired plurality of weighted exercise slide devices, each of the same overall dimension but of varying weights, may be created once the base or standard size is determined. This is accomplished by drilling a desired number of holes through the weight plate to alter or reduce the weight or mass of the plate by a desired amount. The altered weight plate is then placed in the standard mold and encapsulated within a surrounding layer of thermoplastic polymer material. This creates a weighted exercise slide device of the standard size but with a weight less than that of the predetermined base or standard exercise slide device.

Altering the weight or mass of the standardized weight plate as described, rather than using weight plates of different sizes and weights, reduces the inventory of materials and serves to reduce the manufacturing costs.

Maintaining a base or standard size for the weighted exercise slide device allows the use of a standard sized mold for use in encapsulating the weight plate within the device also serves to reduce the manufacturing costs.

Providing a plurality of weighted exercise slide devices of varying weights but of the same overall dimensions allows a user to select and control the sliding resistance of the exercise slide device used during an exercise routine without having to adapt to or become familiar with slide devices of varying dimensions.

Providing the user with a plurality of weighted exercise of a variety of different weights but with the same overall dimensions will serve to enhance the user's control of the device as it is being used as well as serve to enhance the user's confidence and safety as exercises are performed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of the weighted exercise slide device as described herein.

FIG. 2 is a cross-section view of the weighted exercise slide device of FIG. 1 cut along lines 2-2 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top view of an altered weight plate of the weighted exercise slide device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial cross-section detail view of the weighted exercise slide device of FIG. 1 illustrating placement of shear connectors.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the weighted exercise slide device of FIG. 1 with the addition of an optional safety strap.

FIG. 6 is shows multiple views an alternate embodiment of the weighted exercise slide device of FIG. 1 with the addition of an optional handle.

FIG. 7 is a cross-section view of an alternate embodiment of the weighted exercise slide device including a weight spacer and an overmold.

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the embodiment of the alternate embodiment of the weighted exercise slide device depicted in FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The weighted exercise slide device 10 is shown in the drawings particularly FIGS. 1 and 2. The weighted exercise device 10 is comprised of a weight plate 12 having a desired size and weight. The weight plate 12 is encapsulated within a layer of thermoplastic polymer material 16, such as high density polyethylene (HDPE) or another suitable polymer material. The layer of thermoplastic material 16 surrounding the weight plate 12 creates a smooth low friction bottom sliding surface 24 for the device 10. A friction enhanced gripping surface 23 is provided on the top surface 22 of the device 10 to aid a user in holding or gripping the weighted exercise slide device.

The friction enhanced surface 23 may be provided by stippling, a plurality of surface grooves, an abrading, or checkering on the top surface 22. However, it is thought that a layer of soft friction enhanced material 14 attached by glue or other suitable bonding means to top surface 22 of the device 10 will be utilized as the friction enhanced surface 23. A layer of thermoplastic elastomer material, such as a Dynaflex™ thermoplastic elastomer currently manufactured by Polyone Corporation 33587 Walker Road Avon Lake Ohio 44012, will be suitable as the soft friction enhanced material 14.

While the friction enhanced material 14 will be overmolded, bonded, or glued to the top surface 22 of the encapsulating layer of thermoplastic material 16 of the exercise device 10, the bond may be loosened after extended use of the device 10 allowing the layer of material 14 to separate from top surface 22. The bond between the material 14 and the top surface 22 of the encapsulating layer of thermoplastic material 16 may be enhanced by bonding the friction enhanced material 14 over a plurality of shear connectors 18 on the top surface 22 of thermoplastic material 16 as shown in FIG. 3.

The shear connectors 18 are preferably molded integrally with the thermoplastic material 16 and serve to anchor the material 14 to the top surface 22 of the of thermoplastic material 16. The shear connectors 18 may also be embedded in the top surface 22 of thermoplastic material 16 as separate components or the shear connectors 18 may be cut into the top surface 22 of the thermoplastic material 16. The shear connectors 18 may be of any suitable shape such as square, rounded, T-shaped, or hooked projections that extend from the top surface 22.

As shown in FIG. 4, the weight of weight plate 12 may be changed or varied from its standard weight by drilling or otherwise creating at least one or a desired plurality of boreholes 28 into or through the weight plate 12. The boreholes 28 serve to remove a desired quantity of plate material thereby reducing the weight or mass of the weight plate 12 without a change in the overall dimensions of weight plate 12. The number of boreholes 28 provided in the weight plate 12 will determine the amount of variation in the weight of the varied weight plate 12 when compared to its standard weight.

An exercise device 10 of a desired weight, but of a predetermined overall dimension, size, and shape, may then be produced by selecting a weight plate 12 of a desired size, shape, and weight or mass and encapsulating the selected weight plate 12 within the layer of thermoplastic material 16. It is thought that the exercise device 10 will be created by injecting molten thermoplastic material 16 into a mold of a predetermined overall dimension, size, and shape to encapsulate the selected weight plate 12. Because the weight plate 12 has uniform overall dimensions, the same mold may be used for encapsulating weight plates 12 of varying weights within the layer of thermoplastic material 16.

For example, a manufacturer may use the same mold to produce a weighted exercise slide device 10 of a desired weight by reducing the weight of a weight plate 12 of a standard size and weight, placing the weight plate of the reduced weight in the mold, and injecting the mold with thermoplastic material to encapsulate the weight reduced weight plate 12. The weight reduced weight plate 12 may be produced by drilling or otherwise creating at least one or more boreholes 28 in a weight plate 12 of a standard size and weight to reduce the weight of that weight plate 12 to the desired lesser weight. In this manner any number of exercise slide devices 10, each of a desired weigh and with uniform overall dimensions, may be provided to a user from the same mold.

To use the exercise slide device 10, the user's hand, foot, knee, or other body part are placed on the friction enhanced surface 23 of a desired selected device 10 of a desired weight. The user then moves the device 10 on the low friction bottom sliding surface 24. The exercise slide device 10 provides a medium to facilitate low-friction exercise movements in an assortment of desired directions. The weight of plate 12 in the selected exercise device 10 will change the force required to slide the exercise device 10 and difficulty level of the exercise to be performed. The friction enhanced surface 23, such as that provided by the friction enhanced material 14 of upper surface 22 will allow a user to continue to maintain contact with the device 10 even when the friction enhanced surface 23 becomes wet due to sweat.

The exercise device 10 gripping surface 23 is manipulated by a user's hand, foot, knee, or other body part. The high density polyethylene layer 16 of low friction lower sliding surface 24 will allow for sliding of the device when used by a user. The edges of the low friction lower sliding surface 24 may be rounded to facilitate ease in sliding without the risk of catching the edge upon the surface of the floor. The exercise slide device 10 may also be provided with a gripping strap 20 as shown in FIG. 5 or a handle 21 as shown in FIG. 6. A handle or a strap 5 will provide a means for easy transport as well as provide additional means for a user to securely retain the device 10 during an exercise routine.

The force needed to move any object is determined by multiplying the static or kinetic frictional coefficient between the object and its support surface by the normal force exerted by the object. The greater the weight or mass of the weight plate 12 in the exercise slide device 10, the greater the force required to move the exercise slide device 10 on a floor surface. Varying the weight of the exercise slide device 10 by varying the weight of the weight plate 12 will allow a user to change the difficulty of the sliding exercises. Providing a user with a weighted exercise device 10, or a variety of differently weighted exercise devices, will enhance the quality of workout provided to a user. Maintaining the same overall dimensions of the differently weighted exercise slide devices 10 will provide the user with a familiar grip and feel for control of the device 10 when the device is being used and enhance the user's confidence and safety as exercises are performed.

Now referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, an alternate embodiment the weighted exercise device 10 may be comprised of a top framed structure 32 composed of a top layer of thermoplastic elastomer 16 selected to provide a soft, rubbery feel that is positioned above a layer of polypropylene 17. Thermoplastic elastomer 16 is selected to be suitable for overmolding and bonding to the polypropylene layer 17 and may be composed of styrenic block copolymers (SBC or SBS), tightly linked polystyrene, and elastomeric blocks such as that currently manufactured and sold under the name Dynaflex™. Such thermoplastic elastomers allow for formulating options to enable fine tuning of performance and properties.

Top framed structure 32 may be connected with a sliding bottom framed structure 33 composed of thermoplastic elastomer 14. These connecting top and bottom framed structures 32 and 33 together will comprise the layer of thermoplastic polymer material 16 to create a space 31 between the top and bottom framed structures 32 and 33. A weight plate 12 selected to provide a desired weight resistance is positioned in the space 31 between the top and bottom framed structures 32 and 33. Preferably the weight plate 12 will have perimeter dimension that will correspond with the perimeter dimension of the space 31 so that the weight plate thickness is varied depending upon the weight resisted required or selected. If the desired selected weight resistance of the weight plate 12 does not provide a weight plate thickness dimension sufficient to completely fill the space 31 created between top framed structure 32 and bottom frame structure 33, a spacer plate 35 preferable made of thermoplastic polymer material may also be positioned in the space 31 preferably beneath the selected weight plate 12 in order to completely fill any gap 37 in the space 31 between the weight plate 12 and the top framed structure 32 or the bottom frame structure 33. The spacer plate 35 may be sized as required to fill the space 31 depending upon the thickness of the weigh plate 12.

The interconnecting top and bottom framed structures 32 and 33 may be permanently bonded together or they may be releasably joined together by means of a frictional slot connection 34, a mechanical mechanism such as a key and keyway type connection, or by attachment screws. Assembling the device 10 comprises placing spacer 35 and the selected weighted plate 12 upon the sliding thermoplastic elastomer 14 of bottom frame structure 33 wherein the polypropylene layer 17 may be placed to enclose spacer 35 and weight plate 12 in space 31. Slot 34 may then be utilized by the thermoplastic elastomer 16 of top frame structure 32 which inserts to fit over the polypropylene layer 17 and into slot 33 which will grip and hold the thermoplastic elastomer 16 in place.

When the interconnecting top and bottom framed structures 32 and 33 are so releasably joined, the top and bottom framed structures 32 and 33 may be disconnected from each other if desired. When so disconnected the enclosed weight plate 12 and spacer 35 may be removed and replaced with a weight plate 12 of a different weight and a spacer of a different thickness if necessary to fill the space 31. Then the interconnecting top and bottom framed structures 32 and 33 may be reattached to enclose and encapsulate the replacement weight plate 12. A user may be provided with a variety of differently weighted replacement weight plates 12 and spacers 35 so that the weight of the weighted exercise device 10 may be adjusted as desired.

A plurality of holes 36 are provided in a series or grid pattern across the top surface of polypropylene layer 17. Holes 36 are distributed about the surface of polypropylene layer 17 to facilitate adhesion with thermoplastic elastomer 14. Distributing holes 36 about polypropylene layer 17 discourages the rubber from pealing from horizontal shear. Without a feature such as holes 36, bubbles will appear between the polypropylene layer 17 and thermoplastic elastomer 14.

It will be understood that changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts of the exercise slide device 10 and the described methods without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing any of the invention's material advantages. The description and drawings provided herein are intended to provide an exemplary embodiment of the exercise slide device 10 and methods and it will also be understood that the invention can be practiced by other than the described embodiments which are presented for purposes of illustration and not limitation.

Claims

1. A weighted exercise slide device comprising: (a) a weight;(b) a thermoplastic layer encapsulating said weight; said thermoplastic layer encapsulating said weight having a top surface and a bottom surface; and(c) a friction enhanced gripping surface on said top surface of said thermoplastic layer encapsulating said weight.

2. The weighted exercise slide device as recited in claim 1 wherein said bottom surface of said thermoplastic layer encapsulating said weight provides a bottom sliding surface.

3. The weighted exercise slide device as recited in claim 2 wherein said weight is a weight plate having a desired dimension and a predetermined weight.

4. The weighted exercise slide device as recited in claim 3 wherein said weight plate has at least one borehole reducing said predetermined weight of said weight plate.

5. The weighted exercise slide device as recited in claim 4 wherein said friction enhanced gripping surface is comprised of a layer of thermoplastic elastomer material.

6. The weighted exercise slide device as recited in claim 5 further comprising a plurality of shear connectors anchoring said layer of thermoplastic elastomer material to said top surface of said thermoplastic layer encapsulating said weight.

7. The weighted exercise slide device as recited in claim 6 wherein said shear connectors are molded integrally with said top surface of said thermoplastic layer encapsulating said weight.

8. The weighted exercise slide device as recited in claim 6 wherein said shear connectors are cut into said top surface of said thermoplastic layer encapsulating said weight.

9. The weighted exercise slide device as recited in claim 4 wherein said thermoplastic layer encapsulating said weight is comprised of high density polyethylene.

10. The weighted exercise slide device as recited in claim 6 further comprising a strap or handle attached to said top surface.

11. A method of producing a weighted exercise slide device for use in a low friction exercise routine comprising the steps of: (a) providing a weight plate having a predetermined dimension and a predetermined weight;(b) encapsulating said weight plate within thermoplastic material, said thermoplastic material having a top surface and a bottom surface; and(c) providing a friction enhanced gripping surface on said top surface of said thermoplastic material.

12. The method of producing a weighted exercise slide device for use in a low friction exercise routine recited in claim 11 wherein said thermoplastic material is comprised of high density polyethylene.

13. The method of producing a weighted exercise slide device for use in a low friction exercise routine recited in claim 12 wherein said friction enhanced gripping surface on said top surface of said thermoplastic material is a layer of thermoplastic elastomer material.

14. The method of producing a weighted exercise slide device for use in a low friction exercise routine recited in claim 11 further comprising the additional steps of: (a) providing at least one borehole in said weight plate; and(b) determining if said borehole reduces the weight of said weight plate to a desired weight.

15. The method of producing a weighted exercise slide device for use in a low friction exercise routine recited in claim 14 including the additional step of: (a) providing a plurality of shear connectors on said top surface of said thermoplastic material; and(b) bonding said layer of thermoplastic elastomer material to said top surface of said thermoplastic material over said plurality of shear connectors.

16. The method of producing a weighted exercise slide device for use in a low friction exercise routine recited in claim 15 including the additional step of providing a strap or handle attached to said top surface.