Aspects of this disclosure relate generally to a plyometric box, and more particularly, to a plyometric box with features that enhance the stackability of a plurality of plyometric boxes.
Plyometric boxes, or jumping boxes, are often used by individuals for power training exercises, allowing the user to jump up onto and off of the box. By jumping up onto and off of such a box, an individual can exert their muscles to high potential in a short period of time. Gyms and other exercise facilities may have a plurality of plyometric boxes, allowing multiple individuals to use the stools either individually, or in a class. Additionally, a facility may utilize a plurality of plyometric boxes having different heights. For storage, the plyometric boxes may be stacked together in order to reduce the space and/or square footage required to store the stools. A problem may arise when stacking plyometric boxes, as they may become wedged together and hard to separate.
Aspects of the disclosure relate to a plyometric box that includes a platform, a first pair of opposed sidewalls, and a second pair of opposed sidewalls. Each sidewall extends downwardly from the platform, and includes a first side, an opposed second side, a first stacking rib or pair of stacking ribs on an interior surface of the sidewall proximate the first side, and a second stacking rib or pair of stacking ribs on the interior surface of the sidewall proximate the second side. Each stacking rib extends downwardly from the platform along the sidewall, and a bottom surface of each stacking rib is spaced upwardly from a bottom edge of the sidewall.
Additional aspects of the disclosure relate to a plyometric box that includes a platform, a first pair of opposed sidewalls, and a second pair of opposed sidewalls. Each sidewall extends downwardly from the platform, and includes a first side, an opposed second side, a first stacking rib or pair of stacking ribs on an interior surface of the sidewall proximate the first side, and a second stacking rib or pair of stacking ribs on the interior surface of the sidewall proximate the second side. Each of a plurality of vertical wall support ribs extends along one of the sidewalls. A bottom surface of each stacking rib is spaced upwardly from a bottom edge of one of the sidewalls. Each stacking rib extends outwardly from one of the vertical wall support ribs into an interior of the plyometric box. An intersection of a top surface of the platform and an exterior surface of each sidewall is rounded over with a first radius. An intersection of the bottom surface of each of the stacking ribs and an interior edge of one of the wall support ribs includes a fillet having a second radius that is substantially the same as the first radius.
Further aspects of the disclosure relate to a plyometric box that includes a platform, a first pair of opposed sidewalls, and a second pair of opposed sidewalls, each sidewall extending downwardly from the platform and including a first side and an opposed second side. Each sidewall includes a curved arm formed along the first side of the sidewall and defining a corner of the plyometric box, a shoulder formed at the second side of the sidewall, and a lip extending laterally outwardly from the second side of the sidewall, such that the lip is recessed from an exterior surface of the sidewall, and the shoulder extends from the exterior surface to the lip. An end of the curved arm of each sidewall is nested against one of the shoulders and an exterior surface of the lip of an adjacent sidewall.
Other features and advantages of the disclosure will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the attached drawings.
To allow for a more full understanding of the present disclosure, it will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail example embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated. In the following description of various example structures according to the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration various example devices, systems, and environments in which aspects of the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other specific arrangements of parts, example devices, systems, and environments may be utilized and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
In certain embodiments, some or all components of the plyometric box 10 may be formed of a plastic or other polymer material, such as a resin, for example. In one embodiment, the platform 12 and all four sidewalls 14, 16, and subcomponents of the same, may be formed of such materials. It is to be appreciated that plyometric box 10 may be formed of recycled materials in certain embodiments. In certain embodiments, elements or components of plyometric box 10 may be compression molded.
In certain embodiments, as illustrated in
The term “approximately” as used herein is meant to mean close to, or about a particular value, within the constraints of sensible commercial engineering objectives, costs, manufacturing tolerances, and capabilities in the field of plyometric box manufacturing and use. Similarly, the term “substantially” as used herein is meant to mean mostly, or almost the same as, within the constraints of sensible commercial engineering objectives, costs, manufacturing tolerances, and capabilities in the field of plyometric box manufacturing and use.
In certain embodiments, specifications including dimensions listed herein may vary by +/−5% or +/−10% of the nominal values identified. In other embodiments, the dimensional specifications may vary by +/−0.05 inch or +/−0.03 inch.
In certain embodiments, each of sidewalls 14 and 16 may be identical to one another, and each may include a slot or aperture 34 extending therethrough proximate top edge 32. Apertures 34 may be elongated in form, with rounded ends. In one embodiment (e.g.,
Plyometric box 10 may have a height H, a width W, and a length L. In certain embodiments, height H may be approximately 12 inches. As discussed in greater detail below, a plurality of plyometric boxes 10 may be provided, with one or more additional plyometric boxes having a different height H, allowing users to jump to different heights, thereby varying their workout routine. In certain embodiments, width W may be approximately 19 inches, and length L may be approximately 19 inches. The width W and length L shown in
Each sidewall 14, 16 may include a wall notch 40 formed along bottom edge 30, with wall notch 40 including a pair of opposed notch sidewalls 42 and an upper surface 44. In certain embodiments, notch sidewalls 42 may be angled upwardly and inwardly from bottom edge 30 of sidewalls 14, 16 to upper surface 44 at an angle B. In certain embodiments, angle B may be between approximately 10° and approximately 20°, and more particularly, approximately 15°. The wall notches 40 may be located between the feet 15 and may define the edges of the feet 15.
In certain embodiments, a plurality of recesses 46 may be formed in the top surface 48 of platform 12. In certain embodiments, recesses 46 may be rectangular, or square, and may be arranged in a grid or array on top surface 48. The recesses 46 may be separated by ribs 47 that are also arranged into a grid pattern. Recesses 46 and ribs 47 may serve to provide traction to users when jumping onto and off of platform 12 of plyometric box 10.
Each sidewall 14, 16 may include one or more stacking ribs 50, 54, 56, 60 on the interior surface 52 thereof in one embodiment, and each sidewall 14, 16 may include a plurality of stacking ribs 50, 54, 56, 60. Such stacking ribs 50, 54, 56, 60 may extend outwardly from and vertically along the interior surface 52 of the sidewall 14, 16. As illustrated in
Similarly, a first pair of stacking ribs 56 may be formed on and extend vertically along an interior surface 58 of second sidewall 16, and may further extend outwardly toward the interior of plyometric box 10. Stacking ribs 56 may be positioned proximate first side 22, between first side 22 and aperture 34, and may extend along an entire height of second sidewall 16, substantially parallel to one another. A second pair of stacking ribs 60 may be formed on and extend vertically along interior surface 58 of second sidewall 16, and may further extend outwardly toward the interior of plyometric box 10. Stacking ribs 56 may be positioned proximate second side 24, between second side 24 and aperture 34, and may extend along an entire height of second sidewall 16, substantially parallel to one another.
Each stacking rib 50, 54, 56, 60 may include a bottom surface 57 that extends outwardly from the sidewall 14, 16 toward the interior of the plyometric box 10, seen more clearly in
Stacking ribs 50, 54, 56, 60 advantageously allow a plyometric box 10 to be stacked on another plyometric box 10 without the two plyometric boxes becoming wedged together when stacked. This allows users to stack, and then easily unstack, two or more plyometric boxes 10 together.
The transition or intersection between the bottom surface 57 of each stacking rib 50, 54, 56, 60 and an interior edge of one of vertical support walls 100 may include an arc or fillet 66 with a radius R1. As illustrated in
The transition or intersection 69 between the bottom surface 57 of each stacking rib 50, 54, 56, 60 and an interior edge of the respective stacking rib may be rounded over, to help ensure that multiple plyometric boxes 10 can be easily be stacked together and subsequently unstacked.
When a first plyometric box 10′ (top box) is stacked on and nested with a second plyometric box 10″ (bottom box), as illustrated in
In certain embodiments, an upwardly facing shoulder 70 may be formed at top edge 32 of each sidewall 14, 16, and a lip 72 may extend inwardly from top edge 32 and shoulder 70 underneath a portion of platform 12. A bottom surface 73 of the rounded over peripheral edge 68 may be seated on lip 72, with a distal end 74 of the peripheral edge 68 being seated on the shoulder 70, such that platform 12 and sidewalls 14, 16 nest together, helping improve the structural integrity of plyometric box 10. A plurality of fasteners (not visible here), such as bolts or screws, for example, may be received in apertures 76 (see
As illustrated in
It is to be appreciated that a similarly formed lip 78 may be positioned at second side 24 of each second sidewall 16, and that a similarly formed arm 80 positioned at first side 18 of each first sidewall 14 at first corner 26 may be directly fastened to a lip 78 on second sidewall 16 in the same manner. In this configuration, the sidewalls 14, 16 and the corners 26, 28 may be formed by four identical pieces 13, each having a lip 76, 78 formed at the second (e.g., left) side 20, 24, and each having a curved arm 80 formed at the first (e.g., right) side 18, 22, and each having a shoulder 70 and a lip 72 at a top edge 32, which pieces 13 are connected together as described herein. Each of the feet 15 may be formed by portions of two adjacent pieces 13 and may have a curved portion formed by the curved arm 80. The construction of the plyometric box 10 may also include a top piece 17 that is connected to the tops of all four sidewall pieces 13, e.g., by additional fasteners (not shown) received in fastener holes 88 that extend through the platform 12 and the tops of the sidewall pieces 13. The top piece 17 in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
Another embodiment of plyometric box 10 is seen in
Various embodiments of plyometric box 10 have been described herein, which include various components and features. In other embodiments, plyometric box 10 may be provided with any combination of such components and features. It is also understood that in other embodiments, the various devices, components, and features of the plyometric box 10 described herein may be constructed with similar structural and functional elements having different configurations, including different ornamental appearances.
Several alternative embodiments and examples have been described and illustrated herein. A person of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate the features of the individual embodiments, and the possible combinations and variations of the components. A person of ordinary skill in the art would further appreciate that any of the embodiments could be provided in any combination with the other embodiments disclosed herein. It is understood that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or central characteristics thereof. The present examples and embodiments, therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein. Terms “top,” “bottom,” “left,” “right,” “upper,” “lower,” and the like, as used herein, are intended for illustrative purposes only and do not limit the embodiments in any way. When used in description of a method or process, the term “providing” (or variations thereof) as used herein means generally making an article available for further actions, and does not imply that the entity “providing” the article manufactured, assembled, or otherwise produced the article. Nothing in this specification should be construed as requiring a specific three dimensional orientation of structures in order to fall within the scope of this invention, unless explicitly specified by the claims. Additionally, the term “plurality,” as used herein, indicates any number greater than one, either disjunctively or conjunctively, as necessary, up to an infinite number. Accordingly, while the specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the accompanying claims.
This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Patent Application No. 62/961,990, filed on Jan. 16, 2020; and is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. Design application Ser. No. 29/743,211, filed on Jul. 20, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S. Design application Ser. No. 29/680,387, filed on Feb. 15, 2019, now U.S. Pat. No. D890,869; each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
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