Patent Application
20220010540
This disclosure relates to personal-use sized portable shelters accommodating both intense fitness activity and peaceful mediation or prayer.
Large gyms offer the public opportunities to exercise in or around groups of people. Such large gyms present challenges, however, in that they may be busy, not convenient to a home or office, or not sufficiently private or sanitary to suit individual preferences, especially amid a pandemic. Some of these issues have been addressed by mini-gyms, which have been used in urban settings in China. See, for example, the “Movable mini gymnasium” described in the Chinese Utility Model No. CN20281045U. Such mini gyms however, have been structured specifically to accommodate physical training and fitness. In an increasingly hectic society, individuals may have a need to maximize their uninterrupted personal time without additional travel between an athletic facility and a more serene facility in addition to home and work.
There is a need for a convenient, private, clean, personal-use single-occupancy portable space or shelter that is structured to accommodate both physical activity and spiritual or meditative activity.
The described portable spaces may address one or more the issues identified above.
Generally, a personal-use single-occupancy portable space has four walls, a floor, a ceiling and a door. The space combines at least one region for intense physical exercise and at least one region for peaceful meditation or prayer. The physical exercise region or regions may include at least one of cardio equipment, strength training equipment, and/or a basketball hoop game. The mediation region may include an altar. Regions may optionally be separated by a curtain, drape, or full or partial wall, or markings on the floor.
One or more of the portable spaces may be installed indoors, such as a common area in a large office building or in a segregated area of a manufacturing plant that has been repurposed. The portable spaces may also be installed outdoors, such as near an office center, parking lot, or in a park or woods on private property.
All figures and examples herein are intended to be non-limiting; they are mere exemplary iterations and/or illustrative embodiments of the claims appended to the end of this description. Modifications to specifically-described units, systems, the order of steps in processes, etc., are contemplated. The portable units, systems and methods are capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting. Moreover, discussion of the related art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such related art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.
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One region 29a includes cardio equipment 22 that is placed on or mounted to the floor 5. Many different types of cardio equipment are contemplated, including but not limited to a treadmill, an elliptical machine, a stair stepper, or a rowing machine. Another region 29b includes strength training equipment 24. Many different types of strength training equipment are contemplated, including but not limited to free weights with barbells and/or dumbbells and associated benches, cages and racks, kettle balls, machines that isolate one or more muscle groups, stability balls, and exercise bands. Another region 29c includes a mounted hoop for a one-person game involving shooting a projectile such as a ball through the hoop, and includes floor space that may optionally include a LOGO of either the seller of the portable space 10 or of the purchaser if specified in an order. Another region 39 is for mediation or prayer, and includes an altar 33 attached to or integrally formed with the floor 5 and meditative space 30 for kneeling, bowing, sitting, prostration or other physical position affiliated with meditation or prayer.
A plurality of regions are contemplated for use in portable spaces. At least two regions, and fewer than five regions are contemplated for single-occupancy units. Greater than five regions may be used for two-person portable spaces. It is contemplated that not-to-exceed three occupancy units may be constructed and used.
Although it is contemplated that regions are not separated by partitions or floor markings, regions may optionally be separated by separated by partitions, which may optionally include artwork on one or more sides. For example, a partition may have active or athletic images on one side and serene, peaceful images on another side. Partitions may be curtains, drapes, cubicle-style walls, accordion dividers, or other dividing structures. Partitions may be supported by one or more of a wall 12, the floor 5, or the ceiling (not shown in
It is contemplated that portable space 10 may vary in shape, dimensions and materials. Regarding shape, the floor 5 can be a rectangle or a square. It is also contemplated that the floor could be an oval or a circle in certain embodiments, or an irregular shape. Regarding dimensions, in some outdoor embodiments, the dimensions may be smaller than or equal to 12 ft width×12 ft length×10 ft height. In some indoor embodiments, the dimensions may be smaller than or equal to 11 ft width×11 ft length×8 ft height.
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Generally, light weight and sturdy construction materials are contemplated for use with the floor, wall assemblies (wall panels and frame), and ceiling. For portable spaces for indoor installation, the materials of construction need not be as sturdy or weather-resistant as those used for outdoor installation. Metal, stone, graphite, wood, plastic, laminate, and fabric may all be used in portable spaces, whether in the floor, walls, ceiling or décor.
It is contemplated that the floor is made of a lightweight material sufficiently strong to support four walls and a ceiling in addition to cardio equipment. Such materials include wood, laminate and plastic materials and combinations thereof. For outdoor installations, the floor can be attached to a base that is directly or indirectly supported by a concrete foundation, or the base may itself be a concrete foundation. The floor may having markings to indicate regions, and may include one or more logos such as the B180 logo or the logo of its customers. The floor may have an integrally formed altar or an attachable altar. In some embodiments, the altar is slid into position and further secured. In some embodiments, the altar is inserted into a recessed area in the floor, and optionally glued, nailed or screwed in position. The altar may have any of a number of shapes and dimensions. Generally, the altar is raised from the floor and is generally shaped like a rectangular table. The altar may have a finish or veneer that is the same or different from that of the floor. The altar may have an area for kneeling adjacent the altar, which may have a mat or carpet covering. Optional structure may be provided for candles or faux candles or incense on or near the altar. A white cloth covering may be available near the or under the altar, along with other religious or meditative items such as a Bible or a Quran.
For indoor and outdoor embodiments, the floor may have apertures on its top or side surfaces to receive fasteners such as screws or nails to support a frame of a wall assembly. The floor and at least one wall or frame member may have a hinged connection. For example, it is contemplated that a floor is mechanically attached to a frame, the frame being movable relative to the floor via hinge to pivotally erect one or more wall assemblies when it can then be locked into position. Alternatively, embodiments without hinges between a frame and a floor are contemplated. When the frame for the wall assemblies are erected, the wall panels can be attached to the frame, along with any other doors, windows, electrical wiring that requires routing, ventilation systems, insulation and the like. In some embodiments, windows are built into the wall structures and are not separate. The ceiling can be attached. Ceilings may be optional in indoor embodiments. In one embodiment, the external-facing wall includes a fabric covering having a LOGO of a retail purchaser of a pre-assembled portable space.
It is contemplated that the walls may be made from any number of lightweight materials that are sufficiently strong support, for example, attachment of a basketball hoop and sufficient to withstand, for example, a ball being thrown against it. Such walls may include one or more metal, plastic or wood frame pieces supporting panels using mechanical and/or chemical fasteners such as brackets. The basketball hoop can be slid into place on a wall or door, or otherwise secured. Wall panels may include surface materials, such as plastic, laminate, glass, metal, wood or fabric. Wall panels may be hollow or include sound-deadening material. Wall panels may optionally include windows. Such windows may be plastic, such as polycarbonate. In some indoor embodiments, wall panels may be shaped at their edges to mechanically engage with other wall panels for ease of assembly.
Once constructed, the portable space may be stocked with clean towels, disposable towels, disinfectant, hand sanitizer, warnings, emergency instructions, instructions for a hoop game, instructions for use of the cardio or strength training equipment, and prayer or meditative support materials and symbolic icons. A user may use the space in any order of his or her choosing, or may proceed in pre-determined routines identified by the manufacturer and included in instructions.
Computer systems and software may be used for reservations for the shelters at busy office spaces and manufacturing plants. Computer systems can be used to track equipment shelter usage and/or equipment usage. In some embodiments, an electronic alert system (sensors in electrical communication with one or more computers including processors, memory, and a display) can be installed so a user can manually alert staff when help is needed, when equipment needs attention, or when custodial staff is needed. Such system can be hard wired or wireless. Optionally, using processors, memory, systems, standards and protocols (including communications protocols) affiliated with the Internet of Things (IoT), the alert system can be automated to send an alert to a phone or other display whenever a predetermined triggering event occurs. Such event can be when the door is opened or closed, or when cardio equipment is used for a certain number of cycles, or when weights lifted from or returned to racks, etc.). Through manual logs, electronic logs, sensors and/or cameras, usage can be monitored and maintenance and custodial staff can adjust service schedules according to need. In some embodiments, the security system includes a biometric system whereby identity of the user in the portable space can be verified against a reference table of, for example, employee data of those employees who sign up to use the portable spaces and permit their data to be so used.
With regard to the processes described herein, it should be understood that, although the steps of such processes, have been described as occurring in a certain sequence, such processes could be practiced with the described steps performed in an order other than the exemplary order. It further should be understood that certain steps could be performed simultaneously, that other steps could be added, or that certain steps described herein could be omitted. In other words, the descriptions of processes herein are provided for the purpose of illustrating certain embodiments and should in no way be construed so as to limit the claimed invention.
Accordingly, it is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Many embodiments and applications other than the examples provided would be apparent upon reading the above description. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the appended claims along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. It is anticipated and intended that future developments will occur, and that the disclosed systems and processes will be incorporated into such future embodiments. The invention is capable of modification and variation.
All terms used in the claims are intended to be given their broadest reasonable constructions and their ordinary meanings as understood by those knowledgeable in the technologies described herein unless an explicit indication to the contrary is made herein. Use of the singular articles such as “a,” “the,” “said,” recite one or more of the indicated elements unless a claim recites an explicit limitation to the contrary.
