Aerobic step/bench exercise device

• US 5,125,646 A
• Filed: 05/03/1991
• Issued: 06/30/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: William T. Wilkinson
• Original Assignee: William T. Wilkinson
• Inventors: Wilkinson, William T.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Connor, Cary E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TSO, LAURA K
• Application Number:
  US07/695,394
• Time in Patent Office: 424 Days
• Field of Search: 248/188.2, 248/649, 248/911, 108/11, 108/12, 108/144, 108/111, 403/3, 272/70, 272/144, 272/DIG. 4
• US Class Current: 482/52
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 9/14 with pins coacting with holes
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 12/02 requiring conversion between the step and seat functions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0458 Step exercisers without moving parts with movable steps A63B22/04
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/911 Plural, selectively usable, support engaging means

Abstract

An aerobic step/bench exercise device includes a base having a horizontal platform with downwardly extending sides. The lower surface of the base includes a plurality of spaced leg receiving openings. Each of the openings has at least one notch extending upwardly from the lower surface into which a lateral projection from a respective leg would be inserted to control the extent to which a leg may be inserted into its respective opening.

Claims

1. An aerobic step/bench exercise device comprising a base, said base having a horizontal platform with downwardly extending sides, said basing having a lower surface remote from said platform, a plurality of spaced leg receiving openings in said base extending upwardly from said lower surface, each of said openings having at least one notch at said lower surface extending laterally outwardly from said opening over a fixed vertical distance from said lower surface, at least two legs, each of said legs being insertable into a respective one of said openings, each of said legs having an outwardly extending fixedly mounted projection for fitting in said notch of said respective opening to detachably mount said leg to said base, each of said legs and said base having abutting surfaces to limit the extent each of said legs may be telescoped into said respective opening, an abutting surface covering said notch at said fixed vertical distance to comprise said abutting surface of said base, and said outwardly extending projection comprising said abutting surface of said leg whereby said platform is capable of being disposed at a plurality of elevations wherein one of said elevations results from said base being mounted directly on a support surface when said legs are detached from said base and another of said elevations results from said legs being mounted to said base with said abutting surfaces contacting each other.

15. The device of claim 1 wherein a plurality of sets of said notches extend from said lower surface, each of said sets of notches extending different vertical distances from said lower surfaces.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein each of said sets of notches includes more than one notch, and each of said legs having a plurality of projections corresponding to the number of notches in each of said sets.

17. The device of claim 15 wherein one of said sets of notches extends from said lower surface to the upper surface of said platform, and said leg having an abutting surface for contacting said lower surface of said base when said projections are in said set of notches which extends to said upper surface of said platform for limiting the telescoping distance of said leg into said opening.

18. The device of claim 17 wherein an apron extends downwardly from said platform to comprise said downwardly extending sides, and an open space being created within the periphery of said apron, and mounting brackets extending from the lower side of said platform into said space within the periphery of said apron for holding said legs when said legs are in their non-use and storage condition.

19. The device of claim 18 including a mat, said mat having an area larger than the peripheral area formed by said base when said legs are mounted to said base whereby said base may be mounted over said mat with said legs supported by said mat.

20. The device of claim 19 wherein said mat is formed by a pair of panels hinged together so that one panel may be folded on top of other of said panels, and projections extending from the lower surface of said apron for mounting said mat in said space within the periphery of said apron when said mat is in its folded condition during periods of non-use.

2. An aerobic step/bench exercise device comprising a base, said base having a horizontal platform with downwardly extending sides, said base having a lower surface remote from said platform, a plurality of spaced leg receiving openings in said base extending upwardly from said lower surface, each of said openings having at least one notch at said lower surface extending laterally outwardly from said opening over a vertical distance from said lower surface, at least two legs, each of said legs being insertable into a respective one of said openings, each of said legs having an outwardly extending projection for fitting in said notch of said respective opening to detachably mount said leg to said base, each of said legs and said base having abutting surfaces to limit the extent each of said legs may be telescoped into said respective opening whereby said platform is capable of being disposed at a plurality of elevations wherein one of said elevations results from said base being mounted directly on a support surface when said legs are detached from said base and another of said elevations results from said legs being mounted to said base, a plurality of sets of said notches extending from said lower surface, and each of said sets of notches extending different vertical distances from said lower surfaces.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein each of said sets of notches includes more than one notch, and each of said legs having a plurality of projections corresponding to the number of notches in each of said sets.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein one of said sets of notches extends from said lower surface to the upper surface of said platform, and said leg having an abutting surface for contacting said lower surface of said base when said projections are in said set of notches which extends to said upper surface of said platform for limiting the telescoping distance of said leg into said opening.

5. The device of claim 3 wherein an apron extends downwardly from said platform to comprise said downwardly extending sides, and an open space being created within the periphery of said apron.

6. The device of claim 5 including mounting brackets extending from the lower side of said platform into said space within the periphery of said apron for holding said legs when said legs are in their non-use and storage condition.

7. The device of claim 6 including a mat, said mat having an area larger than the peripheral area formed by said base when said legs are mounted to said base whereby said base may be mounted over said mat with said legs supported by said mat.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said mat is formed by a pair of panels hinged together so that one panel may be folded on top of other of said panels.

9. The device of claim 8 including projections extending from the lower surface of said apron for mounting said mat in said space within the periphery of said apron when said mat is in its folded condition during periods of non-use.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein said device and said apron are capable of providing a step having a height in the range of two inches to fourteen inches with said mat in its unfolded condition comprising said step at said two inch height and said base and said legs being mounted on said mat when said step is in its fourteen inch height.

11. The device of claim 4 wherein said legs are mounted perpendicular to said platform.

12. The device of claim 4 wherein said legs are mounted at an obtuse angle to said platform.

13. The device of claim 4 wherein each of said legs terminates at its lower end in a dome shaped foot.

14. The device of claim 4 wherein each of said legs terminates at its lower end in a flattened foot.