Patent Application
20240189647
This disclosure relates generally to exercise equipment, and more particularly to an adaptable exercise platform for assisting those with reduced physical abilities, whether due to age or injury, to perform a range of basic exercises and stretches to the best of their ability given their physical condition.
It is well known that low impact resistance training such as the activities included in many yoga routines, as well as simple exercises such as leg-lifts, sit-ups, and step-ups, and stretches are very effective at increasing flexibility, building strength, and generally promoting health, both physically and mentally. This is especially true when individuals commit to a regular or semi-regular routine involving such activities.
One of the most common obstacles to committing to a regular or semi-regular routine of low impact exercises and stretches is the convenience of doing so. The more convenient it is for an individual to engage in such exercise, the more likely an exercise routine will be successfully established. Establishing a regular exercise routine is typically more easily accomplished if the individual has a comfortable surface upon which to exercise. An example of a very typical comfortable surface upon which to exercise is the standard yoga mat. A yoga mat provides both a clean location on the ground or floor and a minimal amount of cushion for comfort.
For many individuals, however, the standard yoga mat is not a convenient or comfortable surface. For example, for individuals with reduced physical abilities because of an injury or due to the natural processes of aging, lowering one's self to the ground or floor may be quit strenuous, painful, or even physically impossible.
For such individuals, a raised exercise surface would provide a much more comfortable and convenient exercising surface and may increase such individual's likelihood of exercising despite their physical limitations or pain. It is especially important for these particular individuals to have a comfortable and convenient exercising surface because it is through the continued exercise despite ones physical limitations and/or pain that many injuries are eventually rehabilitated or mitigated, and it is through continued exercise that those gradually losing strength and flexibility through the natural processes of aging are best able to delay the body's natural decline and extend their ability to remain active and mobile.
The ideal height of a raised exercising surface may vary from individual to individual according to the individual's physical capability or particular injury, and may even vary for the same individual depending on the particular exercise performed; therefore, an ideal exercising surface would be adaptable to the height preference of the exercising individual. There exists a need for a raised exercise surface capable of being adjusted to various heights to meet the various preferences of each exercising individual.
Individuals with reduced physical abilities often compensate for a lack of strength or flexibility in one portion of their body with assistance from another. For example, many such individuals often prefer to use their arms to assist their legs when attempting to sit or stand. Compensating with one's arms can also allow an individual to perform certain exercises that would prove too difficult or strenuous without such assistance and/or allow physically compromised individuals to exercise with more stability and confidence than they would otherwise enjoy. For this reason, there is also a need for an adjustable height exercise surface that includes strength compensation features that allow an individual to compensate for a lack of strength or flexibility in various parts of the body so that simple exercises and stretches can be performed despite an individual's physical deficiencies.
Similarly, many individuals whose physical abilities are reduced to the point of being bed ridden also have the strength to perform some simple exercises and/or stretches if they were provided with a comfortable, convenient exercise space and various strength compensation features. For these individuals, a typical mattress is often too soft to push against to perform limited physical activities and would benefit from a more firm exercise surface with the strength to support their bodies that could rest on top of their mattress so that they could perform exercises without leaving their bed and various strength compensation features could further reduce the strain required to perform low impact exercises such as partial sit-ups and leg lifts and stretches.
The present disclosure distinguishes over the related art providing heretofore unknown advantages as described in the following summary.
The present disclosure relates to an adaptable exercise platform with various strength compensation features for assisting those with reduced physical abilities, whether due to age or injury, to perform a range of light exercises and stretches to the best of their ability given their physical condition.
Many existing exercise devices are designed for individuals of average or above average strength and flexibility. However, it is those individuals with more limited strength and flexibility that have a greater need for special equipment designed to assist their exercise needs. Individuals who have been injured or who are gradually losing their strength and flexibility due to the natural process of aging may have great difficulty and may even experience pain when attempting to use standard exercise equipment or when attempting to sit down on the ground or floor to perform exercises on a standard yoga mat. Still others may be capable reaching the ground or floor with ease but worry that they may not be able to stand back up again after exercising.
Similarly, some individuals may not be able to complete a full sit-up without some form of additional assistance and/or may not feel safe or comfortable stepping up on an exercise platform without extra stability provided by something to grab with their hands. However, it is critically important that such individuals continue to engage in light exercise within their physical capabilities so that they may rehabilitate their injuries and/or abate the losses associated with the natural processes of aging.
The present disclosure addresses these special concerns. The present disclosure is a highly adaptable exercise apparatus designed to provide support, convenience, and leverage through strength compensation features in the manner much needed by individuals of more limited physical capability.
In its most basic form, the present disclosure comprises at least one stackable exercise platform of sufficient length to extend from an individual's knees to past their head (when the individual is laying supine on the exercise platform) and of a width greater than the width of an individual's shoulders. The exercise platform's thickness is such that a small plurality of vertically stacked exercise platforms (between 3 and 6) should reach the height of an individual's knees when standing erect. In more precise units this translates to a length in the range of three to four feet, a width in the range of two to three feet, and a thickness in the range of two to six inches. Some embodiments may exhibit greater length so that an individual supine supported by the platform from head to toe.
The exercise platform is constructed from a sturdy, firm material so that it can support an individual's weight without bending or collapsing but it is also able to provide a small amount of flex or cushion for comfort. In some embodiments, the exercise platform may be constructed from two or more different materials to achieve these duel physical characteristics. Some embodiments may feature a composite construction including structural stringers and foam to provide the requisite structural integrity as well as flex or cushion for comfort.
The lateral edges of each stackable exercise platform are turned upwards and rounded in an ergonomic fashion forming a handrail that runs the length of the lateral edges of the exercise platform so that an exercising individual has many convenient locations to grip the exercise platform while performing an exercise and/or while changing their body's position relative to the exercise platform, such as when changing to a sitting position from a supine position or changing from sitting position to a standing position.
The lateral hand rails also serve as a secure coupling mechanism to vertically affix multiple stackable exercise platforms together. More specifically, the superior surface of each stackable exercise platform is complimentary in shape to the inferior surface of the stackable exercise platforms placed immediately above. In this manner, the exercising individual may adapt the exercising platform to whatever height they desire simply by securely stacking the appropriate number of stackable exercise platforms. This feature provides the benefit of creating a sturdy elevated exercise platform for individuals who may have difficulty or experience pain when attempting to sit on the ground or floor.
Some individuals may only utilize one exercise platform or stack only a few exercise platforms to create an exercise platform that is only slighted elevated from the ground or floor while others may stack several exercise platforms so that they may sit down on the exercise platform by merely bending their knees slightly. Some embodiments may include a top stackable platform with a flat surface without the raised handrails for the performance of exercises in which such handrail might interfere.
The presently disclosed apparatus may also include a variety of strength compensation features to assist individuals perform light exercises. For example, some embodiments include a wedge shaped accessory component for supporting the individual's upper torso in a partially up-right position when the individual is lying on the exercise platform. This may be used for many different exercises including but not limited to performing partial sit-ups without fully extending to the supine position.
Another strength compensation feature is a shortened exercise platform component. The shortened exercise platform component may have the same width and complimentary inferior surface as the standard stackable exercise platform to enable coupling but its length is reduced relative to the standard stackable exercise platform. This accessory component may be used to elevate the hips higher than the shoulder blades when laying supine on an exercise platform coupled with this accessory component. Such a position may assist in the performance of a wide variety of light exercises and stretches.
One further strength compensation feature is the roller accessory component. The roller accessory component extends the width of the stackable exercise platform with terminal ends designed to comport with and be guided by the stackable exercise platform's lateral handrails. This accessory component is designed to allow an individual to lay supine on the stackable exercise platform with the roller underneath the individual perpendicularly across the center of the individual's back. As the exercising individual pushes their body lengthwise along the exercise platform, the roller rolls along the exercise platform guided by the exercise platform's lateral handrails applying pressure to the individual's spine and surrounding muscles. This therapy itself it not new, but an apparatus that allows the therapy to be performed at a custom elevation for individuals with limited physical capacity is quite novel.
A still further strength compensation feature is the mobility assistance frame. The mobility assistance frame is an accessory component constructed from lightweight aluminum bars or similar material designed for the purpose of providing a stable support structure to grip with one's hands to gain additional stability and/or leverage while performing various exercises. The mobility assistance frame is situated with one or more base legs on either side of the stackable exercise platform and is height adjustable thereby providing the individual with a stable structure within arm's reach regardless of the height at which such individual has adjusted the exercise platform. In some embodiments the mobility assistance frame also includes a trapeze-style bar suspended over the exercising platform allowing the individual an additional structure to grip for the purpose of assisting in the performance of light exercises or stretches.
Other embodiments of the present disclosure may include additional strength compensating features designed to further assist individuals with diminished physical capabilities perform light exercises and stretches.
This disclosure teaches certain benefits in construction and use which give rise to the objectives described below:
The accompanying drawings are diagrams that illustrate various exemplary implementations and are part of the specification. The illustrated implementations are proffered for purposes of example, not for purposes of limitation. Illustrated elements will be designated by numbers. Once designated, an element will be identified by the identical number throughout. Illustrated in the accompanying diagram drawings is at least one of the best mode embodiments of the present disclosure. In such drawings:
The above described drawings illustrate an exemplary embodiment of an apparatus in at least one of its preferred, best mode embodiments, which is further defined in detail in the following description. Those having ordinary skill in the art may be able to make alterations and modifications to what is described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Therefore, it must be understood that what is illustrated is set forth only for the purposes of example, and that it should not be taken as a limitation of the scope of the present apparatus or its method of use.
Described now in detail is the presently disclosed apparatus and method of use.
The illustrated embodiment features and flat terminal ends 30. In some aspects, the flat terminal ends 30 may include a proximal flat terminal end 30 and a distal flat terminal end 30, as shown in
The exercise platform 10 should be exhibit some cushion so that it provides comfort to an individual while performing light exercises and stretches but it should also be stiff enough to support the weight of an individual at elevation without significant deformation. To accomplish this, some embodiments are constructed from multiple materials of varying stiffness in various orientations.
In some aspects, the upturned lateral edges or handrails 20 may include a first rounded handrail portion 35 and a second rounded handrail portion 45. In one or more aspects, the first rounded handrail portion 35 may be connected to the superior surface 15, and the second rounded handrail portion 45 may be connected to the inferior surface 25. In other words, the first rounded handrail portion 35 and the second rounded handrail portion 45 may be an extension of the superior surface 15 and the inferior surface 25.
In some aspects, the first rounded handrail portion 35 and the second rounded handrail portion 45 may be integrated, as shown in
Further, as shown in
As shown in
In some aspects, the inferior surface of the flat-topped exercise platform 40 may have curved lateral edges along a longitudinal axis of the flat-topped exercise platform 40 that are placed over the upturned lateral edges 20 (and specifically over the first rounded handrail portions 35) of the stackable exercise platform 10. In one or more aspects, the curved lateral edges of the flat-topped exercise platform 40 may correspond in shape to the first rounded handrail portions 35. The flat-topped exercise platform 40 may be utilized at the superior most stackable exercise platform 10 when individuals are performing light exercises or stretches in which the upturned lateral edges 20 may be in the way or obstruct the stretching or exercising experience.
In some aspects, the wedge shape accessory component 50 may have curved lateral edges 55 that may be placed over the upturned lateral edges 20 (and specifically over the first rounded handrail portions 35) of the stackable exercise platform 10. In one or more aspects, the curved lateral edges 55 may correspond in shape to the first rounded handrail portions 35. In other words, the curved lateral edges 55 may fit onto the first rounded handrail portions 35.
In further aspects, the mobility assistance frame 60 may include a horizontal member 65 that may be connected between the two vertical members 61. Specifically, the horizontal member 65 may be connected between the horizontal “U-shaped” structure of the two vertical members 61. In some aspects, the horizontal member 65 may be placed perpendicular to the horizontal “U-shaped” structure of the two vertical members 61. In one or more aspects, the horizontal member 65 may be placed at a center position between the horizontal “U-shaped” structure of the two vertical members 61.
In some embodiments the mobility assistance frame 60 includes an additional gripping point in the form of a suspended trapeze-style bar 70. The suspended trapeze-style bar 70 may be suspended on the horizontal member 65 (e.g., in the center of the horizontal member 65). The suspended trapeze-style bar 70 may be “U shaped” having a first bar end 66 and a second bar end 67. The first bar end 66 and the second bar end 67 may be connected to the horizontal member 65 such that the suspended trapeze-style bar 70 may move in a direction as shown in
As shown in
In further aspects, the shortened stackable exercise platform 85 may include upturned lateral side edges serving as handrails 87. The handrails 87 may be same as the handrails 20 (corresponding to the stackable exercise platform 10) described in conjunction with above figures. In other words, the lateral side edges of the shortened stackable exercise platform 85 may be turned upwards and rounded in an ergonomic fashion forming handrails 87 running along the length of the shortened stackable exercise platform 85. In some aspects, the handrails 87 may be placed over the handrails 20. In further aspects, a flat terminal end corresponding to the shortened stackable exercise platform 85 may be placed over the proximal flat terminal end 30 or the distal flat terminal end 30.
In further aspects, the shortened stackable exercise platform 85 may have an inferior surface that is complimentary in shape to the superior surface 15 of the stackable exercise platform 10 allowing for secure coupling of said shortened stackable exercise platform 85 to the stackable exercise platform 10 when placed in vertical adjacency.
In some aspects, the cylindrical roller accessory component 90 may have a width that may be similar (or slightly smaller) as the width of the superior surface 15 or the interior surface 25 of the stackable exercise platform 10. In further aspects, the cylindrical roller accessory component 90 may be attached to upturned lateral side edges of the cylindrical roller accessory component 90 serving as handrails 92. In some aspects, the cylindrical roller accessory component 90 and the handrails 92 may form a unitary structure.
In some aspects, the inferior surface of the shortened flat-topped stackable exercise platform may have curved lateral edges that may be placed over the upturned lateral edges 20 (and specifically over the first rounded handrail portions 35) of the stackable exercise platform 10. In some aspects, the shortened flat-topped stackable exercise platform may have two curved lateral edges. In one or more aspects, the curved lateral edges may correspond to the shape of the first rounded handrail portions 35.
In particular,
In some aspects, the flat-topped exercise platform 40 may have the duct 100 near the four edges of the flat-topped exercise platform 40. In some aspects, the flat-topped exercise platform 40 may be rectangular in shape, and the duct may also be rectangular in shape. In further aspects, the flat-topped exercise platform 40 may include a hole 120 in a duct portion. In some aspects, the hole 120 may circular. The water collected in the duct 100 may be transferred to the collection basin 110 via the hole 120. In further aspects, the height and width of the flat-topped exercise platform 40 and the stackable exercise platform 10 may correspond to the height and width of the hospital bed.
The definitions of the words or drawing elements described herein are meant to include not only the combination of elements which are literally set forth, but all equivalent structures, materials or acts for performing substantially the same function in substantially the same way to obtain substantially the same result. In this sense it is therefore contemplated that an equivalent substitution of two or more elements may be made for any one of the elements described and its various embodiments or that a single element may be substituted for two or more elements in a claim.
Changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised, are expressly contemplated as being equivalents within the scope intended and its various embodiments. Therefore, substitutions, now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art, are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements. This disclosure is thus meant to be understood to include what is specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptually equivalent, what can be obviously substituted, and also what incorporates the essential ideas.
The scope of this description is to be interpreted only in conjunction with the appended claims and it is made clear, here, that the named inventors believe that the claimed subject matter is what is intended to be patented.
This application is a divisional application of co-pending prior U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/220,391, filed Jul. 27, 2016, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto.
