Portable, adjustable exercise step/bench

• US 5,127,647 A
• Filed: 03/20/1991
• Issued: 07/07/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: William T. Wilkinson
• Original Assignee: William T. Wilkinson
• Inventors: Wilkinson, William T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancene, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): TSO, LAURA K
• Application Number:
  US07/672,429
• Time in Patent Office: 475 Days
• Field of Search: 297/175, 297/423, 297/424, 297/438, 297/439, 297/445, 297/461, 108/11, 108/12, 108/19, 108/43, 108/49, 108/155-157, 108/159, 108/144, 108/111, 248/188, 248/188.2, 248/188.8, 248/911, 403/3, 211/207, 211/208, 272/70, 272/144, 272/DIG. 4, 272/65, 182/46, 182/242
• US Class Current: 482/52
• 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 exercise step/bench for aerobic climbing and dance includes a base in the form of a horizontal platform having a downwardly and outwardly extending apron disposed at an angle greater than 0° and less than 90°. A leg is mounted against the apron at each corner of the platform. The leg is movable from an active position where it extends downwardly beyond the apron to a stored condition where it is mounted against or in the base within the periphery of the apron.

Claims

1. An exercise device for use in aerobic step climbing routines/programs comprising a rigid base, said base consisting of an integral one piece unit including a horizontal platform having opposite ends and intermediate sides with a downwardly and outwardly extending apron extending from each of said ends and sides, a corner where each of said ends is joined to its adjacent side, said apron being disposed at an elevation and plan view angle from greater than 0°

to less than 90°

with respect to said platform, a leg mounted to said base at each of said corners, each of said legs being movable from an active position to a stored condition, each of said legs being disposed against said apron at said angle and extending downwardly beyond said apron when said leg is in said active position, and each of said legs being mounted against said base within the periphery of said apron when said leg is in said stored condition.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein each of said legs is adjustable in its length.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein each of said legs comprises an inner tube telescopically mounted within an outer tube, and incremental locking means connecting said inner tube to said outer tube to control the effective length of said leg.

4. The device of claim 2 including a foot on each of said legs made from a non-slip material.

5. The device of claim 4 including a non-skid surface on said platform.

6. The device of claim 2 wherein each of said legs is hinged to said base to be movable to and from said active position and said stored condition.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein each of said legs is rotatable over a range of 110°

.

8. The device of claim 7 including mounting means on the under surface of said platform for maintaining each of said legs in its stored condition when each of said legs is hinged from its active position in contact with said apron to its stored condition in contact with the under surface of said platform.

9. The device of claim 2 wherein said apron is integral and extends completely around the periphery of said platform to form a continuous apron having four rounded corners, a guide mounted at each of said corners, and each of said legs being disposed in a respective one of said guides.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein each of said legs is adjustably mounted in its respective guide.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein each of said guides is integral with said apron, a plurality of spaced holes located in each of said guides, and each of said legs having a spring pin disposed for selective engagement in a respective one of said holes in its guide to control the amount that each of said legs extends below said apron.

12. The device of claim 11 including said base having mounting means for holding said legs in said stored condition.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein said mounting means are mounted to said apron.

17. The device of claim 11 including a foot on each of said legs integral with its leg.

18. The device of claim 1 including a steady post detachably mounted in a vertical position to said platform.

19. The device of claim 1 including handle means on said base to facilitate the carrying of said device.

20. The device of claim 19 wherein said handle means comprises a slot in said apron.

23. The device of claim 1 including a pouch, and said legs being disposed in said pouch with said pouch mounted within the periphery of said apron when said legs are in said stored condition.

24. The device of claim 1 including at least one indentation in an exposed surface of said base for holding an advertising insert.

25. The device of claim 1 wherein said elevation angle comprises a first angle with respect to an end of said base and a second angle with respect to said intermediate side, and each of said first and second second angle being between 10°

and 30°

.

26. The device of claim 25 wherein each of said first and second second angle is about 20°

, and said plan view angle being about 45°

.

14. An exercise device for use in aerobic step climbing routines/programs comprising a base, said base consisting of a horizontal platform having opposite ends and intermediate sides with a downwardly and outwardly extending apron extending from each of said ends and sides, a corner where each of said ends is joined to its adjacent side, said apron being disposed at an elevation and plan view angle from greater than 0°

to less than 90°

with respect to said platform, a leg mounted to said base at each of said corners, each of said legs being movable from an active position to a stored condition, each of said legs being disposed against said apron at said angle and extending downwardly beyond said apron when said leg is in said active position, each of said legs being mounted against said base within the periphery of said apron when said leg is in said stored condition, each of said legs being adjustable in its length, said apron being integral and extending completely around the periphery of said platform to form a continuous apron having four rounded corners, a guide mounted at each of said corners, each of said legs being disposed in a respective one of said guides, each of said legs being adjustably mounted in its respective guide, each of said guides being integral with said apron, a plurality of spaced holes located in each of said guides, each of said legs having a spring pin disposed for selective engagement in a respective one of said holes in its guide to control the amount that each of said legs extends below said apron, a foot on each of said legs, said foot being made of a non-skid material, said base having mounting means for holding said legs in said stored condition, said mounting means being mounted to said apron, said legs including two sets of legs, one set of said legs being longer than the other set of said legs, and one of said sets of legs being held by said mounting means when the other of said sets of legs is in the active position.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein said device is dimensioned to dispose said platform selectively at a plurality of heights in the range of 4 to 14 inches.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein said elevation angle is between 10°

and 30°

, and said platform being free of above surface obstructions.

21. An exercise device for use in aerobic step climbing routines/programs comprising a base, said base consisting of a horizontal platform having opposite ends and intermediate sides with a downwardly and outwardly extending apron extending from each of said ends and sides, a corner where each of said ends is joined to its adjacent side, said apron being disposed at an elevation and plan view angle from greater than 0°

to less than 90°

with respect to said platform, a leg mounted to said base at each of said corners, each of said legs being movable from an active position to a stored condition, each of said legs being disposed against said apron at said angle and extending downwardly beyond said apron when said leg is in said active position, each of said legs being mounted against said base within the periphery of said apron when said leg is in said stored condition, said legs comprising two sets of legs, one set of said legs being longer than the other set of said legs, and mounting means for mounting one of said sets of legs to or in said base while the other of said sets of legs is in said active position.

22. The device of claim 21 including a pouch and one of said sets of legs being located in said pouch with said pouch mounted within the periphery of said apron.

27. An exercise device for use in aerobic step climbing routines/programs comprising a base, said base consisting of a horizontal platform having an unbroken generally planar upper surface and having opposite ends with straight parallel upper edges and intermediate sides with straight parallel upper edges, said upper edges of said platform being rounded, said upper surface being unobstructed and free of any vertically extending members whereby said upper surface functions as a user support surface and a user may easily step onto and off of said upper surface, a plurality of downwardly disposed extensions connected to said platform at a plurality of spaced locations said extensions comprising fixed support members having remote ends disposed remote from said upper surface whereby said platform is elevated to a first height stabilized by said extensions when said remote ends of said extensions are placed directly on a flat planar support surface, and at least two legs, each of said legs being secured to said base remote from its other leg, each of said legs being of a length longer than the length of said extensions, each of said legs being hinged to said base to be movable to and from an active position and a stored condition, each of said legs being in said active position when said leg is pivoted away from said base whereby said legs extend beyond said remote ends of said extensions to elevate said platform to a second height hinged than said first height, each of said legs being in said stored condition when said no further from said platform than said remote ends of said extensions when said extensions are in direct contact with said flat planar support surface whereby said extensions support and elevate said platform when said legs are in their stored condition, and said spaced extensions having a plurality of open areas therebetween.

28. The device of claim 27 wherein said legs are secured to said base by mounting brackets.

29. The device of claim 28 wherein said platform has an upper surface, and a non-slip material being on said upper surface.

30. The device of claim 27 wherein said extensions comprise four spaced extensions.

31. The device of claim 27 wherein each of said legs has a remote end remote from said base, and said remote end of each of said legs extending outwardly beyond the periphery of said base when said legs are in their active position.

32. The device of claim 31 wherein each of said remote ends of said legs is spaced from the underside of said platform when said legs are in said stored condition.

33. The device of claim 32 wherein each of said legs is movable in said open areas between said extension.

34. The device of claim 33 wherein said platform has rounded corners, and each of said legs extending outwardly away from said platform at an angle greater than 90°

when said legs are in said active position.

35. The device of claim 34 wherein said upper surface of said platform has an advertising indentation at one of its corners.