Quiet bumper plate
A disk shaped quiet bumper plate for a barbell has a rim of elastomeric material with a shock absorber region. The shock absorber region has a circumferential row of evenly spaced transverse holes. The material between the holes forms radial walls which act as shock absorbers when the bumper plate is dropped. This reduces noise without unduly increasing bounce.
1. A quiet bumper plate comprising:
a) an elastomeric rim, said elastomeric rim comprising a shock absorber region, said shock absorber region comprising a first circumferential row of evenly spaced first holes that pass transversely through said rim;
b) a solid elastomeric body radially inside said elastomeric rim;
c) a solid hub radially inside said solid elastomeric body; and
d) a metal collar radially inside said solid hub, said collar describing a bar hole of about 1 inch in radius such that said bar hole will fit on a bar of a barbell
wherein:
e) said quiet bumper plate has a disk shape; and
f) said quiet bumper plate has a radius in the range of 8.75 to 8.86 inches such that said bumper plate will be suitable for use in weightlifting.
2. The quiet bumper plate of claim 1 wherein:
a) said first holes have a width in the range of 0.5 to 0.75 inches; and
b) said first holes have a spacing in the range of 0.75 to 1.5 inches.
3. The quiet bumper plate of claim 1 wherein said rim has a thickness and said thickness is in the range of 1.4 to 3.75 inches.