Weighted article with dust impervious seaming

Abstract

An article ( 600 ) is provided which includes a body ( 500 ) having an interior volume ( 100 ), and hook ( 124 ) and loop ( 125 ) features which, when pressed closed in at least one locations ( 130, 131 ) location, creates a dynamic hammock dam ( 132 ) that retains a fill material ( 140 ) that has been inserted into the interior volume. The strength of the hammock dam increases with outward pressure ( 141 ) applied on the closure by the fill material. The article is preferably equipped with a large mouth opening ( 110 ) which allows rapid filling or emptying of the fill material from the internal volume.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A weighted article, comprising:
 a body which encloses an interior volume, wherein said body is equipped with a wall having an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein said exterior surface of said wall is in contact with an external environment external to said body, wherein said wall has first and second panels having first and second respective peripheral portions, and wherein said first and second peripheral portions are joined together across a seam;   a fill disposed in said interior volume; and   a coating which is disposed on said interior surface, wherein said coating covers said seam.   
     
     
         2 . The weighted article of  claim 1 , wherein said coating covers said first and second peripheral portions of said first and second panels. 
     
     
         3 . The weighted article of  claim 1 , wherein said coating binds said first and second panels to each other. 
     
     
         4 . The weighted article of  claim 1 , wherein each of said first and second panels comprises a fabric. 
     
     
         5 . The weighted article of  claim 4 , wherein said fabric is selected from the group consisting of polyester, nylon and vinyl. 
     
     
         6 . The weighted article of  claim 1 , wherein said weighted article is a sand bag. 
     
     
         7 . The weighted article of  claim 1 , wherein said weighted article is a medicine ball. 
     
     
         8 . The weighted article of  claim 1 , wherein said weighted article is ellipsoidal in shape. 
     
     
         9 . The weighted article of  claim 1 , wherein said coating is an elastomeric coating. 
     
     
         10 . The weighted article of  claim 1 , wherein said fill is a particulate material. 
     
     
         11 . The weighted article of  claim 10 , wherein said particulate material is selected from the group consisting of sand, grain, steel shot and rubber pellets. 
     
     
         12 . The weighted article of  claim 1 , wherein said coating is selected from the group consisting of epoxies, polyurethanes, urethanes, neoprene, rubbers and urea. 
     
     
         13 . The weighted article of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a protective rim disposed over said seam on the exterior surface of said wall.   
     
     
         14 . The weighted article of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a releasable fastener having first and second components which are disposed in opposing relation on the interior surfaces of said first and second panels, respectively; and   a flexible chute having first and second opposing ends;   wherein said article is transformable between a first state and a second state;   wherein, when said article is in said first state, said flexible chute extends past said first and second components of said releasable fastener and to or through an opening in said body such that (a) the first and second openings of said chute are in open communication with each other, (b) the first opening of said chute is in open communication with the atmosphere external to said body, and (c) the second opening of said chute is in open communication with said interior volume; and   wherein, when said article is in said second state, said first and second components of said releasable fastener are pressingly engaged with each other.   
     
     
         15 . The article of  claim 14  wherein, when said article is in said second state, said flexible chute does not extend past said first and second components of said releasable fastener. 
     
     
         16 . The article of  claim 14  wherein, when said article is in said second state, said flexible chute is in a folded arrangement. 
     
     
         17 . The article of  claim 14 , wherein said releasable fastener is a hook-and-loop fastener. 
     
     
         18 . The article of  claim 14 , wherein said first component of said releasable fastener comprises a plurality of hooks, and wherein said second component of said releasable fastener comprises a plurality of loops. 
     
     
         19 . The article of  claim 14 , wherein said flexible chute has a channel, wherein said channel has a longitudinal axis, and wherein said dam is concave in the direction of a vector extending from said interior volume to said channel. 
     
     
         20 . The article of  claim 19 , wherein said flexible chute has a channel, wherein said channel has a longitudinal axis, and wherein said dam is U-shaped in a cross-section taken in a plane containing said longitudinal axis and perpendicular to said first surface of said dam.