Weight Plate

Abstract

A weight plate includes a first section having an annular shape with a passage extending axially through the first section and configured to receive an elongated member therethrough, and a second section having an annular shape and positioned radially outward of the first section, where the second section includes first and second outer surfaces on opposite axial sides of the weight plate with an axial thickness defined between the first and second outer surfaces. The second section has a plurality of recesses each extending axially inward from the first and second outer surfaces at least partially through the axial thickness of the second section.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A weight plate comprising:
 a weight plate body having an outer periphery, a first outer surface and a second outer surface on opposite axial sides of the weight plate body with an axial thickness defined between the first and second outer surfaces, and a passage extending axially through the weight plate body and configured to receive an elongated member therethrough, wherein the first outer surface and the second outer surface extend from the passage radially outward to the outer periphery; and   a plurality of recesses extending axially inward from at least one of the first outer surface and the second outer surface through at least a portion of the axial thickness, wherein the plurality of recesses comprise a plurality of first recesses having a first peripheral shape with a first number of sides and a plurality of second recesses having a second peripheral shape and a second number of sides,   wherein the first peripheral shape has a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the first peripheral shape narrows to a first point at the first end, and the first recesses are oriented such that the first points are directed radially inward toward the passage, and wherein the second end of the first peripheral shape faces radially outward and is wider in a circumferential direction than the first end,   wherein the second peripheral shape has a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the second peripheral shape narrows to a second point at the second end, and the second recesses are oriented such that the second points are directed radially outward away from the passage, and wherein the first end of the second peripheral shape faces radially inward and is wider in the circumferential direction than the second end, and   wherein the first recesses and the second recesses are arranged in an alternating annular configuration and are annularly interspersed with one another in the alternating annular configuration.   
     
     
         3 . The weight plate of  claim 2 , wherein each of the first recesses in the alternating annular configuration has a flat side that is generally parallel with a closest adjacent flat side of an immediately adjacent recess of the second recesses in the alternating annular configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The weight plate of  claim 2 , wherein each of the first recesses in the alternating annular configuration has a first flat side and a second flat side converging to form the first point, and wherein the first flat side of each of the first recesses is generally parallel with a first adjacent flat side of a first immediately adjacent recess of the second recesses, and the second flat side of each of the first recesses is generally parallel with a second adjacent flat side of a second immediately adjacent recess of the second recesses. 
     
     
         5 . The weight plate of  claim 2 , wherein the second peripheral shape is different than the first peripheral shape, and the second number of sides is different from the first number of sides. 
     
     
         6 . The weight plate of  claim 2 , wherein the first recesses each have a first perimeter defined at the first outer surface or the second outer surface and a first volume, and the second recesses each have a second perimeter defined at the first outer surface or the second outer surface that is different from the first perimeter and a second volume that is different from the first volume. 
     
     
         7 . The weight plate of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of recesses further comprises a plurality of third recesses having a third peripheral shape that is different from the first peripheral shape and the second peripheral shape and a third number of sides. 
     
     
         8 . The weight plate of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of recesses further comprises a plurality of fourth recesses having a fourth peripheral shape that is different from the third peripheral shape and a fourth number of sides that is different from the third number of sides. 
     
     
         9 . The weight plate of  claim 8 , wherein the third recesses and the fourth recesses are arranged in a second alternating annular configuration and are annularly interspersed with one another in the second alternating annular configuration. 
     
     
         10 . The weight plate of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of recesses extend axially inward from the first and second outer surfaces through a portion of the axial thickness, wherein each of the first recesses on the first outer surface is axially aligned with another of the first recesses on the second outer surface to form a pair of first recesses separated by a first inner wall, and each of the second recesses on the first outer surface is axially aligned with another of the second recesses on the second outer surface to form a pair of second recesses separated by a second inner wall. 
     
     
         11 . The weight plate of  claim 2 , wherein the weight plate body further comprises:
 an inner section having an annular shape with the passage extending axially through the inner section, the inner section having an inner section axial thickness;   a middle section having an annular shape with a circular inner periphery and a circular outer periphery and positioned radially outward of the inner section, wherein the axial thickness is defined in the middle section, and the plurality of recesses are located in the middle section; and   an outer section having an annular shape and positioned radially outward of the middle section and forming the outer periphery of the weight plate, wherein the outer section has an outer section axial thickness, wherein the inner section axial thickness and the outer section axial thickness are greater than the axial thickness of the middle section.   
     
     
         12 . A weight plate comprising:
 a weight plate body having an outer periphery, a first outer surface and a second outer surface on opposite axial sides of the weight plate body with an axial thickness defined between the first and second outer surfaces, and a passage extending axially through the weight plate body and configured to receive an elongated member therethrough, wherein the first outer surface and the second outer surface extend from the passage radially outward to the outer periphery; and   a plurality of recesses extending axially inward from at least one of the first outer surface and the second outer surface through at least a portion of the axial thickness, wherein the plurality of recesses comprise a plurality of first recesses having a first peripheral shape with a first number of sides and a plurality of second recesses having a second peripheral shape that is different from the first peripheral shape and a second number of sides that is different from the first number of sides,   wherein the first peripheral shape narrows to a first point, and the first recesses are oriented such that the first points are directed radially inward toward the passage,   wherein the second peripheral shape narrows to a second point, and the second recesses are oriented such that the second points are directed radially outward away from the passage, and   wherein the first recesses and the second recesses are arranged in an alternating annular configuration and are annularly interspersed with one another in the alternating annular configuration.   
     
     
         13 . The weight plate of  claim 12 , wherein each of the first recesses in the alternating annular configuration has a flat side that is generally parallel with a closest adjacent flat side of an immediately adjacent recess of the second recesses in the alternating annular configuration. 
     
     
         14 . The weight plate of  claim 12 , wherein each of the first recesses in the alternating annular configuration has a first flat side and a second flat side converging to form the first point, and wherein the first flat side of each of the first recesses is generally parallel with a first adjacent flat side of a first immediately adjacent recess of the second recesses, and the second flat side of each of the first recesses is generally parallel with a second adjacent flat side of a second immediately adjacent recess of the second recesses. 
     
     
         15 . The weight plate of  claim 12 , wherein the first recesses each have a first perimeter defined at the first outer surface or the second outer surface and a first volume, and the second recesses each have a second perimeter defined at the first outer surface or the second outer surface that is different from the first perimeter and a second volume that is different from the first volume. 
     
     
         16 . The weight plate of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of recesses further comprises a plurality of third recesses having a third peripheral shape that is different from the first peripheral shape and the second peripheral shape and a third number of sides. 
     
     
         17 . The weight plate of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of recesses further comprises a plurality of fourth recesses having a fourth peripheral shape that is different from the third peripheral shape and a fourth number of sides that is different from the third number of sides. 
     
     
         18 . The weight plate of  claim 17 , wherein the third recesses and the fourth recesses are arranged in a second alternating annular configuration and are annularly interspersed with one another in the second alternating annular configuration. 
     
     
         19 . The weight plate of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of recesses extend axially inward from the first and second outer surfaces through a portion of the axial thickness, wherein each of the first recesses on the first outer surface is axially aligned with another of the first recesses on the second outer surface to form a pair of first recesses separated by a first inner wall, and each of the second recesses on the first outer surface is axially aligned with another of the second recesses on the second outer surface to form a pair of second recesses separated by a second inner wall. 
     
     
         20 . The weight plate of  claim 12 , wherein the weight plate body further comprises:
 an inner section having an annular shape with the passage extending axially through the inner section, the inner section having an inner section axial thickness;   a middle section having an annular shape with a circular inner periphery and a circular outer periphery and positioned radially outward of the inner section, wherein the axial thickness is defined in the middle section, and the plurality of recesses are located in the middle section; and   an outer section having an annular shape and positioned radially outward of the middle section and forming the outer periphery of the weight plate, wherein the outer section has an outer section axial thickness, wherein the inner section axial thickness and the outer section axial thickness are greater than the axial thickness of the middle section.   
     
     
         21 . A weight plate comprising:
 a weight plate body comprising:
 an inner section having an annular shape with a passage extending axially through the inner section and configured to receive an elongated member therethrough, the inner section having a first axial thickness; 
 a middle section having an annular shape with a circular inner periphery and a circular outer periphery and positioned radially outward of the inner section, wherein the middle section includes first and second outer surfaces on opposite axial sides of the weight plate, with a second axial thickness defined between the first outer surface and the second outer surface; 
 an outer section having an annular shape and positioned radially outward of the middle section and forming an outer radial periphery of the weight plate, wherein the outer section has a third axial thickness, wherein the first axial thickness and the third axial thickness are greater than the second axial thickness; and 
   a plurality of recesses located in the middle section and extending axially inward from at least one of the first outer surface and the second outer surface through at least a portion of the second axial thickness, wherein the plurality of recesses comprise a plurality of first recesses having a first peripheral shape with a first number of sides and a plurality of second recesses having a second peripheral shape that is different from the first peripheral shape and a second number of sides that is different from the first number of sides,   wherein the first peripheral shape has a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the first peripheral shape narrows to a first point at the first end, and the first recesses are oriented such that the first points are directed radially inward toward the passage, and wherein the second end of the first peripheral shape faces radially outward and is wider in a circumferential direction than the first end,   wherein the second peripheral shape has a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the second peripheral shape narrows to a second point at the second end, and the second recesses are oriented such that the second points are directed radially outward away from the passage, and wherein the first end of the second peripheral shape faces radially inward and is wider in the circumferential direction than the second end, and   wherein the first recesses and the second recesses are arranged in an alternating annular configuration and are annularly interspersed with one another in the alternating annular configuration.