Brick for yoga exercising

Abstract

A brick for yoga exercising includes a hollow core brick made of plastics and a softwood outer layer covering an outer overall surface of the hollow core brick. The hollow core brick is a hollow brick of a predetermined shape and has rugged engaging faces on the outer overall surface thereof. The softwood outer layer is bonded to the rugged engaging faces of the hollow brick core. The hollow core brick provides improved support for the weight of the yoga exerciser, while the softwood outer layer provides improved anti-slip effect and comfortable touch.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a brick for yoga exercising. In particular, the present invention relates to a brick with improved safety, improved anti-slip effect, improved supporting effect, and improved comfort for yoga exercising.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Yoga exercising is an exercise that involves stretching, twisting, and bending movements of the body in addition to control of muscles as well as with harmonic breath. Auxiliary devices such as bricks, mats, balls, rings, etc. have been proposed to assist in yoga exercising.

[0005] FIG. 1 of the drawings illustrates a conventional brick for yoga exercising, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along plane 2-2 in FIG. 1. The brick is used to provide a support during yoga exercising such as rearward bending and other balancing gestures. The brick is generally integrally made of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) or softwood for supporting the yoga exerciser. The brick provides an anti-slip effect on its outer surface and is light to provide a comfortable touch and to prevent potential injury to the exerciser.

[0006] The drawbacks of a brick made of EVA include insufficient strength as well as being apt to be deformed and damaged. Although a brick made of softwood eliminates the drawbacks of the EVA brick, the brick made of softwood is expensive and weighty. It is, therefore, a need in a brick for yoga exercising that mitigates and/or obviates the above problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a brick with improved safety, improved anti-slip effect, improved supporting effect, and improved comfort for yoga exercising.

[0008] The above-mentioned object is achieved by providing a brick for yoga exercising including a hollow core brick made of plastics and a softwood outer layer covering an outer overall surface of the hollow core brick. The hollow core brick is a hollow brick of a predetermined shape and has rugged engaging faces on the outer overall surface thereof. The softwood outer layer is bonded to the rugged engaging faces of the hollow brick core.

[0009] The hollow core brick provides improved support for the weight of the yoga exerciser, while the softwood outer layer provides improved anti-slip effect and comfortable touch. In addition, when compared to the conventional brick made of a single material, the brick of the present invention is lighter in weight and low in manufacture cost, and it is easier to manufacture.

[0010] Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional brick for yoga exercising.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along plane 2-2 in FIG. 1.

[0013] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a yoga brick in accordance with the present invention.

[0014] FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along plane 4-4 in FIG. 3.

[0015] FIG. 4A is an enlarged view of a circled portion in FIG. 4.

[0016] FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating use of the brick for yoga in accordance with the present invention.

[0017] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a modified embodiment of the brick for yoga exercising in accordance with the present invention.

[0018] FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along plane 7-7 in FIG. 6.

[0019] FIG. 8 is a schematic view illustrating use of the brick for yoga exercising in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a brick for yoga exercising in accordance with the present invention is designated by 2 and generally includes a hollow core brick 21 made of plastics and a softwood outer layer 22 covering an outer overall surface of the hollow core brick 21. The hollow core brick 21 is a hollow brick of a predetermined shape and has a light, thin wall. Further, the outer overall surface of the hollow core brick 21 includes rugged engaging faces 211 (FIG. 4A) for engaging with the softwood outer layer 22. The softwood outer layer 22 is directly bonded to the rugged engaging faces 211 of the outer overall surface of the hollow core brick 21. Thus, the brick 2 in accordance with the present invention made of a hollow core brick 21 and a softwood outer layer 22 provides improved support, improved anti-slip effect, and comfortable touch as well as a light structure for yoga exercisers.

[0021] The hollow core brick 21 is preferably made of thermoplastic plastics, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, etc. Preferably, the hollow core brick 21 is formed by means of blow shaping, molding, or heat formation to form a hollow structure with a predetermined shape. An example of the shape for the hollow core brick 21 is a rectangular structure shown in FIG. 4. A reinforcing rib 212 may be integrally formed in the hollow core brick 21. Further, the softwood outer layer 22 has a wall thickness not less than 1.5 mm. Preferably, each corner of the brick 2 is rounded off to prevent the yoga exerciser from being injured.

[0022] FIG. 5 illustrates use of the brick 2 in accordance with the present invention, wherein the yoga exerciser is bending rearward, with her hands on and thus supported by the softwood outer layer 22 of the brick 2. The hollow core brick 21 provides improved support for the weight of the yoga exerciser, while the softwood outer layer 22 provides improved anti-slip effect and comfortable touch. In addition, when compared to the conventional brick made of a single material (i.e., EVA or softwood), the brick 2 of the present invention is lighter in weight and low in manufacture cost, and it is easier to manufacture.

[0023] FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate a modified embodiment of the invention, wherein the hollow core brick 21 of the brick 2 has an arc-shaped portion 213. The softwood outer layer 22 of the brick 2 also has an arc-shaped portion (not shown) that covers the arc-shaped portion 213 of the hollow core brick 21. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the arc-shaped portion 213 provides a comfortable support to the yoga exerciser's lower back portion. Further, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the hollow core brick 21 may include more than one reinforcing rib 212 therein.

[0024] Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Claims

1. A brick for yoga exercising, comprising a hollow core brick made of plastics and a softwood outer layer covering an outer overall surface of the hollow core brick, the hollow core brick being a hollow brick of a predetermined shape and having rugged engaging faces on the outer overall surface thereof, the softwood outer layer being bonded to the rugged engaging faces of the hollow brick core.

2. The brick for yoga exercising as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hollow core brick has at least one reinforcing rib integrally formed therein.

3. The brick for yoga exercising as claimed in claim 1, wherein the softwood outer layer of the brick has a thickness not less than 1.5 mm.

4. The brick for yoga exercising as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hollow core brick is made of one of polyethylene and polypropylene.

5. The brick for yoga exercising as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hollow core brick is rectangular.

6. The brick for yoga exercising as claimed in claim 1, wherein the softwood outer layer has an arc-shaped portion.