# US 10,478,657 B1 · Weight lifting plate > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,478,657 B1 - Document ID: US10478657B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 16/378,474 - Filed: 2019-04-08 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2019-04-08 - Applicants: Matthew Demo - Inventors: Matthew Demo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10478657B1 ## CPC - A63B 21/0722: {transformable, e.g. from dumb-bell to bar-bell} - A63B 21/0004: {Exercising devices moving as a whole during exercise (bar bells or dumb bells A63B21/072; on wheels A63B22/20)} - A63B 21/0728: {with means for fixing weights on bars, i.e. fixing olympic discs or bumper plates on bar-bells or dumb-bells} - A63B 21/075: with variable weights {, e.g. weight systems with weight selecting means for bar-bells or dumb-bells} - A63B 21/4035: {for operation by hand} - A63B 2209/00: Characteristics of used materials - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) ## Abstract A novel weight lifting plate is disclosed. The novel weight lifting plate has a large shaped central aperture. The central aperture is shaped to receive the hand of a user. The central aperture has a plurality of ball bearings extending into the central aperture. There are four lateral ball bearings which hold a barbell in the center of the central aperture when the plate is mounted on the barbell. The plate also has two central ball bearings. The central ball bearings are disposed in recesses with springs within the recesses. When the plate is placed on the barbell the barbell pushes the central ball bearings into the recesses. When the user desires to use the plate by hand, the user places their hand in the central aperture with the ball bearings disposed between the user's fingers. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A weight lifting plate comprising a) a body having a first side, a second side, and a center of gravity; b) a shaped central aperture disposed in said body, said shaped central aperture having a length and a width; i) wherein said length is longer than said width; ii) wherein said shaped central aperture has a substantially rectangular cross section; c) one or more ball bearings disposed in said body and extending at least partially into said shaped central aperture; and d) wherein said center of gravity of said weight lifting plate is disposed within said shaped central aperture. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The weight lifting plate as in claim 1 a) wherein said one or more ball bearings further comprise i) one or more central ball bearings disposed in a position at a midpoint of said length of said shaped central aperture; and ii) one or more lateral ball bearings disposed between said midpoint of said length and an end of said length of said shaped central aperture. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The weight lifting plate as in claim 1 further comprising one or more recesses extending from said shaped central aperture. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The weight lifting plate as in claim 3 further comprising one or more springs respectively disposed in said one or more recesses. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The weight lifting plate as in claim 4 further comprising a) wherein said one or more recesses comprise a first recess and a second recess; b) wherein said one or more springs comprise a first spring and a second spring; c) wherein said one or more ball bearings comprise a first central ball bearing, a second central ball bearing, a first lateral ball bearing, a second lateral ball bearing, a third lateral ball bearing, and a fourth lateral ball bearing; i) wherein said first central ball bearing and said second central ball bearing are respectively disposed at a midpoint of said length of said shaped central aperture; ii) wherein said first lateral ball bearing, said second lateral ball bearing, said third lateral ball bearing, and said fourth lateral ball bearing are respectively disposed between said midpoint of said length and an end of said length of said shaped central aperture; d) wherein said first spring is disposed in said first recess; e) wherein said first central ball bearing is disposed in said first recess between said first spring and said shaped aperture; f) wherein said second spring is disposed in said second recess; g) wherein said second central ball bearing is disposed in said second recess between said second spring and said shaped aperture; h) wherein said first recess and said second recess are disposed on opposite sides of said shaped aperture; i) wherein said first lateral ball bearing and said second lateral ball bearing are disposed adjacent to said first central bearing, said first lateral ball bearing and said second lateral ball bearing being equidistant from said first lateral ball bearing; and j) wherein said third lateral ball bearing and said fourth lateral ball bearing are disposed adjacent to said second central bearing, said third lateral ball bearing and said fourth lateral ball bearing being equidistant from said second lateral ball bearing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The weight lifting plate as in claim 1 further comprising one or more platforms disposed on an outer portion of said plate. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The weight lifting plate as in claim 6 wherein said one or more platforms comprise a first platform, a second platform, a third platform, and a fourth platform; a) wherein said first platform and said second platform are disposed along said length of said shaped aperture on said first side of said body; b) wherein said third platform and said fourth platform are disposed along said length of said shaped aperture on said second side of said body; c) wherein said first platform and said second platform are disposed on opposite sides of said shaped aperture; and d) wherein said third platform and said fourth platform are disposed on opposite sides of said shaped aperture. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The weight lifting plate as in claim 1 further comprising one or more lateral protrusions. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The weight lifting plate as in claim 8 wherein said one or more lateral protrusions further comprises a) a first lateral protrusion, a second lateral protrusion, a third lateral protrusion, and a fourth lateral protrusion; b) wherein said first lateral protrusion and said second lateral protrusion are disposed along said width of said shaped aperture on said first side of said body; c) wherein said third lateral protrusion and said fourth lateral protrusion are disposed along said width of said shaped aperture on said second side of said body; d) wherein said first lateral protrusion and said second lateral protrusion are disposed on opposite sides of said shaped aperture; and e) wherein said third lateral protrusion and said fourth lateral protrusion are disposed on opposite sides of said shaped aperture. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The weight lifting plate as in claim 8 further comprising one or more platforms disposed on an outer portion of said plate. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The weight lifting plate as in claim 9 further comprising one or more platforms disposed on an outer portion of said plate. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The weight lifting plate as in claim 11 wherein said one or more platforms comprise a first platform, a second platform, a third platform, and a fourth platform; a) wherein said first platform and said second platform are disposed along said length of said shaped aperture on said first side of said body; b) wherein said third platform and said fourth platform are disposed along said length of said shaped aperture on said second side of said body; c) wherein said first platform and said second platform are disposed on opposite sides of said shaped aperture; and d) wherein said third platform and said fourth platform are disposed on opposite sides of said shaped aperture. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The weight lifting plate as in claim 12 further comprising one or more recesses extending from said shaped central aperture. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The weight lifting plate as in claim 13 further comprising one or more springs respectively disposed in said one or more recesses. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The weight lifting plate as in claim 14 further comprising a) wherein said one or more recesses comprise a first recess and a second recess; b) wherein said one or more springs comprise a first spring and a second spring; c) wherein said one or more ball bearings comprise a first central ball bearing, a second central ball bearing, a first lateral ball bearing, a second lateral ball bearing, a third lateral ball bearing, and a fourth lateral ball bearing; i) wherein said first central ball bearing and said second central ball bearing are respectively disposed at a midpoint of said length of said shaped central aperture; ii) wherein said first lateral ball bearing, said second lateral ball bearing, said third lateral ball bearing, and said fourth lateral ball bearing are respectively disposed between said midpoint of said length and an end of said length of said shaped central aperture; d) wherein said first spring is disposed in said first recess; e) wherein said first central ball bearing is disposed in said first recess between said first spring and said shaped aperture; f) wherein said second spring is disposed in said second recess; g) wherein said second central ball bearing is disposed in said second recess between said second spring and said shaped aperture; h) wherein said first recess and said second recess are disposed on opposite sides of said shaped aperture; i) wherein said first lateral ball bearing and said second lateral ball bearing are disposed adjacent to said first central bearing, said first lateral ball bearing and said second lateral ball bearing being equidistant from said first lateral ball bearing; and j) wherein said third lateral ball bearing and said fourth lateral ball bearing are disposed adjacent to said second central bearing, said third lateral ball bearing and said fourth lateral ball bearing being equidistant from said second lateral ball bearing. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The weight lifting plate as in claim 1 further comprising one or more apertures disposed in an outer portion of said plate. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The weight lifting plate as in claim 1 further comprising a cap disposed within said shaped aperture, wherein said cap is disposed adjacent to said one or more ball bearings, wherein said cap retains said one or more ball bearings in said body. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The weight lifting plate as in claim 1 further comprising an outer rim disposed along a circumference of said body. ### Claim 19 A method of exercising comprising a) obtaining a weight lifting plate, wherein said weight lifting plate comprises i) a body having a first side and a second side; ii) a shaped central aperture disposed in said body, said shaped central aperture having a length and a width; (1) wherein said length is longer than said width; (2) wherein said shaped central aperture has a substantially rectangular cross section; iii) one or more ball bearings disposed in said body and extending at least partially into said shaped central aperture; iv) wherein a center of gravity of said weight lifting plate is disposed within said shaped central aperture; b) simultaneously placing four fingers through said shaped central aperture along said length; c) ensuring that each of said four fingers is disposed adjacent to at least one of said one or more ball bearings; and d) moving said weight lifting plate. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of exercising as in claim 19 a) wherein said weight lifting plate further comprises i) a lateral protrusion disposed along said width of said shaped central aperture; ii) a platform disposed along said length of said shaped central aperture; b) wherein said method further comprises i) placing a thumb against said lateral protrusion; and ii) placing a palm against said platform.