Detachable Envelopement Type Exerciser

Abstract

An exerciser includes a support (46) having an outer periphery (50). A mat (12) includes inner and outer faces (16, 18) and first and second sides (26, 28) spaced in a length direction and extending between the inner and outer faces (16, 18). A plurality of spaced protrusions (20) is formed on the outer face (18) of the mat (12), with a gap (22) formed between two adjacent protrusions (20). The mat (12) is detachably wrapped around the outer periphery (50) of the support (46), and the first side (26) of the mat (12) is releasably engaged with the second side (28) of the mat (12).

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a detachable envelopment type exerciser and, more particularly, to an exerciser including a mat that can envelope a support to form the exerciser or be used independently.

A wide variety of exercisers for various exercises is available in the market. One of the exercisers is in the form of a rod formed of ethylene or ethylene vinyl acetate. The rod can be placed between the body of a user and the floor so that the user can lie on the rod and change postures to obtain exercising effect. The rod is generally solid to provide sufficient strength. Furthermore, the rod generally includes recessed patterns to provide a ventilation effect, avoiding the user from sweating due to heat. In another option, the rod includes a hollow tube and a foamed layer integrally formed on an outer periphery of the tube as a single, monolithic piece. However, both of the solid rod and hollow rod can perform only one function.

Thus, a need exists for a novel exerciser that provides additional functions.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This need and other problems in the field of rod-like exercisers are solved by providing an exerciser including a support having an outer periphery. A mat includes inner and outer faces and first and second sides spaced in a length direction and extending between the inner and outer faces. A plurality of spaced protrusions is formed on the outer face of the mat, with a gap formed between two adjacent protrusions. The mat is detachably wrapped around the outer periphery of the support, and the first side of the mat is releasably engaged with the second side of the mat.

In a form shown, the plurality of protrusions is disposed on the first side and spreads towards but spaced from the second side of the mat, forming an engagement area at the second side of the mat. One of the protrusions located at the first side of the mat includes a plurality of protrusion sections. A space is formed between two adjacent protrusion sections. A first engagement member is mounted in each of the spaces. A plurality of second engagement members is provided on the engagement area. When the mat is wrapped around the outer periphery of the support, each first engagement member is releasably engaged with one of the plurality of second engagement members. A reinforcing layer is bonded to the inner face of the mat, preventing damage of the mat at the gaps. When the mat is wrapped around the outer periphery of the support, the reinforcing layer abuts the outer periphery of the support.

Illustrative embodiments will become clearer in light of the following detailed description described in connection with the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The illustrative embodiments may best be described by reference to the accompanying drawings where:

FIG. 1 shows an exploded, perspective view of an exerciser according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the exerciser after assembly.

FIG. 3 shows a cross sectional view of the exerciser of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows an enlarged view of a portion of the exerciser of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an example of use of the exerciser.

FIG. 6 is another perspective view showing another example of use of the exerciser.

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a mat of the exerciser of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating use of the mat.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating another use of the mat.

FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of an exerciser of a modified embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of a mat of the exerciser of FIG. 10.

All figures are drawn for ease of explanation of the basic teachings only; the extensions of the figures with respect to number, position, relationship, and dimensions of the parts to form the illustrative embodiments will be explained or will be within the skill of the art after the following teachings have been read and understood. Further, the exact dimensions and dimensional proportions to conform to specific force, weight, strength, and similar requirements will likewise be within the skill of the art after the following teachings have been read and understood.

Where used in the various figures of the drawings, the same numerals designate the same or similar parts. Furthermore, when the terms “first”, “second”, “top”, “bottom”, “inner”, “outer”, “section”, “longitudinal”, “length”, “height”, and similar terms are used herein, it should be understood that these terms have reference only to the structure shown in the drawings as it would appear to a person viewing the drawings and are utilized only to facilitate describing the illustrative embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A detachable envelopment type exerciser is shown in the drawings and generally designated 10. According to the form shown, exerciser 10 includes a support 46 made of ethylene or ethylene vinyl acetate. Support 46 can be of any desired form as conventional including but not limited to of a commercially available type. According to the form shown, support 46 includes circular cross sections and has two end faces 48 spaced along a longitudinal direction and an outer periphery 50 extending between end faces 48. Nevertheless, support 46 can be made of non-foam material. As an example, support 46 can be a cylinder made of plastic. Furthermore, support 46 can have cross sections other than circular. As an example, support 46 can have rectangular, polygonal, or curved cross sections.

According to the form shown, exerciser 10 further includes a mat 12 in the form of a soft cushion 14 made of ethylene or ethylene vinyl acetate. Nevertheless, mat 12 can be made of other materials, such as silicon rubber or rubber. Mat 12 includes inner and outer faces 16 and 18 and first and second sides 26 and 28 spaced in a length direction and extending between inner and outer faces 16 and 18. A plurality of spaced protrusions 20 is formed on outer face 18 of mat 12. Each protrusion 20 extends from outer face 18 of mat 12 in a height direction perpendicular to the length direction. A gap 22 is formed between two adjacent protrusions 20. Protrusions 20 are disposed on first side 26 and spread towards but spaced from second side 28 of mat 12, forming an engagement area 30 at second side 28 of mat 12. One of protrusions 20 located at first side 26 of mat 12 includes a plurality of protrusion sections 20A, with a space 32 formed between two adjacent protrusion sections 20A. A reinforcing layer 24 is bonded to inner face 16 of the mat 12. A first engagement member 34 is mounted in each of the spaces 32. Each first engagement member 34 includes a fixing element 36 fixed to outer face 18 of mat 12. Each fixing element 36 includes a tab 36A extending through mat 12 and reinforcing layer 24. A female coupler 38 is fixed to each tab 36A, with reinforcing layer 24 sandwiched between female coupler 38 and cushion 14 (FIG. 4). A plurality of second engagement members 40 is provided on engagement area 30. Each second engagement member 40 includes a fixing member 42 fixed to reinforcing layer 24. Each fixing member 42 includes a tab 42A extending through reinforcing layer 24 and cushion 14. A male coupler 44 is fixed to each tab 42A, with cushion 14 sandwiched between reinforcing layer 24 and male coupler 44 (FIG. 4).

Mat 12 can be detachably wrapped around outer periphery 50 of support 46. Specifically, mat 12 can be bent to wrap around support 46, with reinforcing layer 24 abutting outer periphery 50 of support 46, and with mat 12 located between end faces 48 of support 46 (FIG. 2). First side 26 of mat 12 overlaps second side 28 of mat 12. Female coupler 38 of each first engagement member 34 is releasably engaged with male coupler 44 of one of second engagement members 40 (FIGS. 3 and 4).

In use, exerciser 10 is placed between a body of a user and a floor or the ground to support the user. In an example shown in FIG. 5, the user can lie against exerciser 10 which is located between the hips and the floor or ground, with two hands of the user placed on the floor or ground, with the body inclined upward, with one leg straightened, and with the other leg bent. In another example shown in FIG. 6, the user lies against exerciser 10 which is between one of her thighs and the floor or ground, with one hand on the floor or ground, with the other hand on the waist, with the legs crossed, with one of the legs on the floor or ground to keep balance. Protrusions 20 of mat 12 provide the user with a massage effect. At the same time, gaps 22 between protrusions 20 allow air to flow between the body of the user and mat 12 and, thus, provide a ventilation effect. However, protrusions 20 can have other arrangements and shapes. As an example, protrusions 20 can be spaced semi-spheres. Furthermore, gaps 22 can be larger while protrusions 20 have reduced volumes to enhance the massage effect of respective protrusions 20.

In addition to use with support 46, mat 12 can be used independently. Specifically, after disengaging first engagement members 34 from second engagement members 40, mat 12 can be removed from support 46 and can be used as a cushion. The user can sit on mat 12 to meditate (FIG. 8) or do sit-ups with mat 12 located between the hips of the user and the ground (FIG. 9).

The shape and arrangement of protrusions 20 can be varied according to needs. FIGS. 10 and 11 show another example of exerciser 10 in which protrusions 20 on mat 12 are either parallelepipeds or ellipsoids to provide different massage effects.

Due to provision of protrusions 20 and gap 22 on mat 12, the clothes or skin of the user can not fill the gaps 22 when the user lies against mat 12, providing enhanced ventilation effect. Furthermore, protrusions 20 provide a massage effect when come in contact with the body of the user. Further, mat 12 can be used independently as a cushion or wrapped around support 46 to form exerciser 10, providing different functions.

Now that the basic teachings have been explained, many extensions and variations will be obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art. For example, mat 12 can have a length smaller than the longitudinal length of support 46, such that mat 12 can be wrapped around an intermediate section of support 46, with two ends of support 46 located outside of mat 12. In addition to wrap around support 46, a plurality of mats 12 can be engaged together to form a long cushion for yoga, with first engagement members 34 on first side 26 of one of mats 12 engaged with second engagement members 40 on second side 28 of another mat 12. Further, first and second engagement members 34 and 40 can be in the forms other than male and female couplers. As an example, first and second engagement members 34 and 40 can be hook and loop fasteners. Further, mat 12 does not have to include reinforcing layer 24 according to needs.

Thus since the illustrative embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or general characteristics thereof, some of which forms have been indicated, the embodiments described herein are to be considered in all respects illustrative and not restrictive. The scope is to be indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.

Claims

1. An exerciser comprising, in combination: a support including an outer periphery; anda mat including inner and outer faces and first and second sides spaced in a length direction and extending between the inner and outer faces, with a plurality of spaced protrusions formed on the outer face of the mat, with a gap formed between two adjacent protrusions, with the mat detachably wrapped around the outer periphery of the support,wherein with the mat wrapped around the outer periphery of the support, the first side of the mat is releasably engaged with the second side of the mat.

2. The safety apparatus as claimed in claim 1, with the plurality of protrusions disposed on the first side and spreading towards but spaced from the second side of the mat, forming an engagement area at the second side of the mat, with one of the plurality of protrusions located at the first side of the mat including a plurality of protrusion sections, with a space formed between two adjacent protrusion sections, with a first engagement member mounted in each of the spaces, with a plurality of second engagement members provided on the engagement area, wherein with the mat wrapped around the outer periphery of the support, each of the first engagement members is releasably engaged with one of the plurality of second engagement members.

3. The safety apparatus as claimed in claim 1, with the mat further including a reinforcing layer bonded to the inner face of the mat, preventing damage of the mat at the gaps, wherein with the mat wrapped around the outer periphery of the support, the reinforcing layer abuts the outer periphery of the support.