IMPROVED WEIGHT TRAINING DEVICE

Abstract: A weight training device having straps (16) for attaching said training device to the body of a user. The training device overcomes an old problem, that of a loose weighted material shifting in a bag (20), by using a malleable weight or a plurality of malleable weights in a pocket during an exercise or pockets (12), (14) of a fabric bag (10). The weights fit tightly in the pockets so that they do not move appreciably. The malleable material is thermoplastic and composed of a malleable base mixture such as clay or putty and mixed with high-density particles such as iron and/or metal powers.

Description: IMPROVED WEIGHT TRAINING DEVICE Background of the Invention It has long been known that weighted objects attached to various appendages of the body can be used to train and develop muscles. Typically, weight filled bags were strapped to the wrists or ankles and left there during practice or taining sessions wherein movement of the legs or arms was involved. Such added weight tends to strengthen the muscles involved in movement of the particular limbs involved thereby enhancing athletic or other performance. Various prior art devices taught the use of flexible bags filled with sand which were strapped to the body. Other devices taught highly flexible plastic materials having high-density articles embedded in the plastic such that the plastic maintained the separated relationship between the embedded particles so as to maintain extreme flexibility. An example of the latter type device is taught in U.S. Patent 3,490,766, filed on October 19, 1967 by Gardner. The problem with sand filled bags is that if the bag is less than completely filled with sand, the sand can shift with motion of the appendage i.e. with a shifting gravity vector, thereby causing unbalanced weighting of the appendage. Such a design can also cause shifting of the training weight on the appendage with consequent abrasion and chaffing action. If the bags are completely filled with sand, they become hard and uncomfortable as they lose a great deal of flexibility in such a condition. OMPI Other examples of prior art weight training devices include U.S. Patents 3 . 759,510 to Jackson, Jr.,; 3,776,547 to Gaboriault; 3,924,851 to ¥inston; 4,239,211 to Wilkerson. Summary of the Invention A training weight apparatus and an article of manufacture for use in weight training. The article of manufacture consists of a malleable clay-like material in wich there is mixed a high-density powder consisting of particles having a density greater than or equal to that of iron. The powder is homogeneously mixed throughout the malleable, clay-like material. In some embodiments there is mixed into this high-density powder, high-density particles or shot having a size and density greater than the size and density of the powder particles. The particles are mixed randomly throghout the malleable material with no regard for whether the larger, higher density particles touch each other. Thus the invention provides a weight packet for attachment to the body for use in exercising comprising a bag enclosing a high density, malleable material comprising a viscous substance having metallic particles randomly distributed therethough. Preferably the metallic particles have a density greater than or equal to that of iron and may be metallic powder and/or larger particles such as shot. The metallic particles my be elemental metal or a metal compound such as a mineral or an oxide of the metal such as iron or lead. The viscous substance is a putty or jelly-like material and may be a grease or an oil. Preferably this substance is a clay or rubber, for example a plasticized thermoplastic rubber. The substance may be a mixture of a liquid rubber and a mineral containing a major proportion of a metallic element having a density greater t-han that of iron. Thixotropic agents may be added to the material to enhance viscosity. » The training weight apparatus is comprised of several elements: a malleable, clay-like material such as described above enclosed in a bag; the bags are then enclosed in pockets in a fabric bag; the fabric bag has fastening means attached thereto for attaching the fabric bag to the appendage of the body. In some embodiments there ae fastening means affixed directly to the bag holding the malleable material such that the bag holding the malleable material can itself be affixed directly to the appendage of the body. Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of an ankle with the training device attached thereto. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the training device. Figure 3 is a sectional view through the training device taken along section line 3-3 in Figure 2. Figure 4 is a view of another embodiment with the fastening means attached directly to the bag holding the malleable material. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment Figure 1 illustrates the use of the improved training weight device. In use, the person undergoing athletic training or therapeutic physical rehabilitation attaches the weight 8 to a desired appendage, which is usually a wrist or ankle, and does movements which the trainee wishes to strengthen. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the training weight showing the fabric bag 10, the pockets 12 and 14, and the fastening means 16. In the preferred embodiment, the fabric bag is nylon fabric. In other embodiments, the bag could be cotton, linen, or any other fabric which interfaces well with human skin. The pockets 12 and 14 serve to hold the weight packets 18 which will be described more fully below. Pockets 12 and 14 are formed in any of a multitude of ways any one of which will be satisfactory for purposes of the invention. The manner of forming the pockets illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 is to start with two rectangular pieces of fabric lying atop each other, sew a seam in the middle across the short dimension and then insert the weight packets 18 and sew up the remaining open edges to enclose the weight packets. The packets 12 and 14 are sized so as to be able to hold any number of weight packets but, in the preferred embodiment, only 1 or 2 bags are inserted therein. The weight packets 18 can be manufactured in any denomination of weight which is desirable and consistent with physical dimensions of the appendage to which the training device is to be attached. In the preferred embodiment, the weight packets 18 are manufactured in one pound and 1 1/4 pound sizes. The weight packets measure approximately 2 3/4 inches by 4 1/4 inches by approximately 1/8th of an inch thick. The fastening devices 16 can be either belts and buckles or Velcro strips. Opposite types of Velcro material are attached to either end of the fabric bag 10 such that opposing straps adhere to each other when pressed together. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the pockets 12 and 14 in the training device 8 showing the relationship between the weight packet 18 and the pockets 12 and 14« The weight packet 18 is comprised of a bag 20 completely enclosing a high-density, malleable mixture. The high-density, malleable material can consist of several different mixtures. The critical features are, however, that the mixture me malleable and clay-like such that it can be molded around the bone structure of the appendage to which it is attached and that it not substantially shift inside the bag holding it during such motions as jogging or dribbling or other jerky motions. Such shifting could aggravate chafing of the skin from sliding the fabric bag against it. The high density, malleable mixture can be mixed OMPI from any of the followig materials: metal powder, metal oxide powder, clay, oil, grease, metal particles or shot of a size and density greater than the size and density of the powder particles. A basic mixture wuld consist of iron or lead or a metal oxide powder, clay and oil. To this mixture a thixotropic agent such as finely ground silica could be added. If it is desired that the density of the mixture be increased, small particles of metal or other substances having a density greater than or equal to the density of the powder particles can be randomly mixed into the powder. The powder should have a density greater than or equal to that of iron. The size of the particles added to the powqder should be larger than the powder particles but small enough so as to not cause discomfort to the wearer. No effort need be made to keep .the larger size particles separated from each other. Iron, lead or metal shot can also be used as long as the density requirements are met. There is nothing critical about using the density of iron as a milepost to define the term "high-density". The main idea is that heavy materials should be used to make a heavy but small weight training device. An infinitely high-density would be ideal since an effective training weight could be made having very small dimensions. Some embodiments may be made with a malleable, high-density mixture comprising metal powder and oil or grease alone. • Of course the metal powder could have larger, heavier particles randomly mixed in and the powder and particles can be made of any dense material. The particles should be more dense than the powder per unit volume. Referring to Figure 4, there is shown a view of another embodiment of the training device. In the embodiment of Figure 4 the fastening means 16 are attached directly to the bag enclosing the malleable, high-density material. In this embodiment, the plastic bag .20 is directly strapped to the trainee's appendage. , '" '"' ' ' S _— •' ; * "

Claims: CLAIMS: 1. A weight packet (18) for attachment to the body for use in exercising, characterized in that the packet (18) comprises a bag (20) enclosing a high density, malleable material comprising a viscous substance having metallic particles randomly distributed therethrough. 2. A weight packet (18) as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that the metallic particles have a density greater than or equal to that of iron. 3- A weight packet (18) as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the metallic, particles comprise metallic powder and/or shot. 4« A weight packet (18) as claimed in Claim 1 , 2 or 3, characterized in that the metallic particles comprise metal oxide and/or elemental metal. 5» A weight packet (18) as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the metal is iron or lead. 6. A weight packet (18) as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the viscous substance comprises a grease and/or an oil. 7. A weight packet (18) as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 5 characterized in that the viscous substance comprises a putty-like material. 8. A weight packet (18) as claimed in Claim 7, characterized in that the viscous substance comprises a clay. . A weight packet (18) as claimed in Claim 7 or 8, characterized -in that the viscous material includes a grease and/or oil. 10. A weight packet (18) as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the viscous substance comprises a plasticized thermoplastic rubber. 11. A weight packet (18) as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the viscous substance comprises a mixture of a liquid rubber and mineral containing a major proportion of a metallic element having a density greater than that of iron. 12. A weight packet (18) as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 11 , characterized in that the malleable material contains a thixotropic agent. 13* An exercise device characterized by comprising at least one weight packet (18) according to any of Claims 1 to 12 and means (16) for attaching the packet(s) to the body. 14* A device as claimed in Claim 13, characterized by comprising one or more fabric bags (10) containing said weight packet(s) (18), the bag(s) (10) having means (16) for attachment to the body. 15- A device as claimed in Claim 13 or 14, characterized by being sized to fit an arm or leg.

Inventors: VAN VLIET LYMAN B JR, VAN VLIET, LYMAN, B., JR.
Applicants: ECLECTIC PRODUCTS INC, ECLECTIC PRODUCTS, INC.
Application year: 1982
Main classification: A63B21
IPC codes: A63B21