Exercise weight structure
A method of producing an exercise weight structure comprises mixing a particulate material with a binder material and molding the resulting mixture to an appropriate shape. An outer skin for the exercise weight structure is firstly formed of a resilient material, and forms a mold into which an inner weight section or body is molded or cast. The inner weight section and the outer skin are both formed of recycled material and include a common binder material.
1. A method of producing a free-weight exercise weight structure configured to be mounted to a handle or bar to be lifted during weightlifting exercise, the method comprising:
mixing a metallic particulate material with a polymer binder material to form a mixture of metallic particulate material and polymer binder material;
molding the mixture of metallic particulate material and polymer binder material to form an inner core that defines an exercise weight capable of being mounted to a handle or bar for lifting during weightlifting exercise; and
at least partially surrounding the inner core with a molded polymer outer skin;
wherein the polymer binder material of the inner core and the molded polymer outer skin are the same material such that the molded polymer outer skin bonds with the polymer binder material of the inner core when the inner core is at least partially surrounded by the molded polymer outer skin.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the metallic particulate material comprises one or more of recycled, reclaimed and waste metal.
3. The method according to claim 1 further comprising curing the metallic particulate material mixed with the polymer binder material.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein molding the mixture of metallic particulate material and polymer binder material comprises introducing the metallic particulate material mixed with the polymer binder material into a mold to form the inner core.
5. The method according to claim 4 further comprising applying pressure to the mold.
6. The method according to claim 1 further comprising forming the molded polymer outer skin.
7. The method according to claim 6 further comprising lining the mold with the molded polymer outer skin.
8. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the molded polymer outer skin is resilient.
9. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the molded polymer outer skin is selected from the group consisting of rubber and polyurethane material.
10. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the molded polymer outer skin comprises a resilient material in particulate form mixed with a second polymer binder material.
11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the resilient material comprises a waste material.
12. The method according to claim 1 further comprising forming the molded polymer outer skin as two separate parts, wherein the two separate parts defining a mold for forming the inner core.
13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein exercise weight structure is selected from the group consisting of a dumbbell head and a free weight disc.
14. A method of producing a free-weight exercise weight structure selected from the group consisting of a dumbbell head and weight plate comprising:
forming a polymer outer skin, the polymer outer skin forming a mold cavity; and
forming an inner weight body comprising a metallic particulate material and a polymer binder material in the mold cavity by one or more of molding and casting;
wherein the polymer binder material of the inner weight body and the molded polymer outer skin are the same material such that the molded polymer outer skin bonds with the polymer binder material of the inner weight body when formed in the mold cavity.
15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein forming the polymer outer skin is by molding.