Weightlifting belt

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION The primary structural element of the weightlifting belt of the invention is a belt body designated generally by reference numeral 10.
The belt body 10 has a body side which faces the wearer of the belt and an outer side.
The belt body 10 includes a core denominated generally by reference numeral 12, with the core encased in an outer shell or sleeve 14.
The core 12 of the belt body 10 includes an elongated foam rubber pad 16 which has an upper edge 18 and a lower edge 20.
The pad lB is preferably made of foam rubber and is positioned to face the body of the wearer of the belt.
Lending rigidity and support to the belt body 10 is a flat plate, strip or strap 22 of a plastic material having fibers embedded therein.
The flat plate 22 is of rigid construction, and it is of relatively high strength.
The width of the plate 22 is substantially equivalent to that of the resilient pad 16, and the plate bears flatly against the outer side of the pad as shown in FIG.
4 of the drawings.
The core 12, made up of the pad 16 and the plate 22, is surrounded by an outer shell or sleeve 14 which is preferably constructed of a relatively non-stretchable nylon fabric material.
One such material is sold under the name CORDURA/SUPPLEX (trademarks of the E.
I.
DuPont DeNemours Company of Wilmington, Del.
).
The nylon fabric of which the outer shell or sleeve 14 is constructed is a high strength material having the feel of cotton, and is relatively lightweight.
As shown in FIG.
4, the shell or sleeve 14 extends nearly completely around the core 12, and in some embodiments of the invention does, in fact, extend completely around and encase the core.
The shell or sleeve 14 may also be described as having a body side 14a which faces the body of the wearer and an outer side 14b.
Secured to the outer side of the belt body 10 is a backup element or strap 26.
The backup strap 26 has a width which is substantially the same as the width of the belt body 10.
As shown in FIG