Stepping device

• US 5,213,554 A
• Filed: 07/01/1991
• Issued: 05/25/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Indian Industries Incorporated (Escalade Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: The Step Company
• Inventors: Goldstein, Eric, Leftwich, Edward, Saunders, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swiatek, Robert P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thomas, L.
• Application Number:
  US07/724,205
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• Field of Search: 482/51, 482/52, 482/909, 403/3, 108/11, 108/12, 108/19, 108/156, 108/157, 108/159, 248/188, 248/188.2, 248/911, 297/438, 297/439, 211/207, 211/208
• US Class Current: 482/52
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0458 Step exercisers without moving parts with movable steps A63B22/04
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/909 Mechanical indicator

Abstract

A device for aerobic step exercises comprising a platform with a flat top, the underside of the platform having a cavity into which either the first or second end of a support member is inserted. Each end has an opening therein or a slot therethrough of a certain depth which contacts engaging means within the cavity to maintain the top of the platform at a certain pre-selected height above the support surface. A respective numeral corresponding to the height is disposed on the support member adjacent its first and second ends. The numeral can be viewed through an opening in the platform when the support member is inserted into the cavity.

Claims

1. A device for aerobic exercising, comprising:

(a) a platform having a flat top;

(b) a pair of cavities formed in the underside of the platform;

(c) a pair of equally dimensioned support members that each have opposed first and second ends which are dimensioned to be received within the cavities, the first and second ends defining a first and second opening therein, respectively, with the openings being in vertical alignment with each other and having a first and second depth, respectively; and

(d) means in each cavity for engaging the openings when each of said selected first or second end of the support members is inserted into a cavity, so tat the platform is maintained at certain selected heights above a support surface depending upon which of the first and second ends are within the cavities.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the support members are substantially rectangular in shape.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the profile of each of the support members is arcuate in shape.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the openings are slots in the respective ends.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein a plurality of first slots are disposed in spaced apart, parallel relationship along the first end of the support member and wherein a plurality of second slots are disposed along the second end in vertical alignment with the first slots.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein the engaging means comprises a plurality of separators disposed in spaced relationship with the cavity, each of the separators to be received within each of a respective first or second slot.

7. The device of claim 1, and further comprising first and second numerals on each of the support members associated with a respective first and second end, each numeral representing the height that the platform with a respective first or second end being received within the cavity is being maintained above a surface and means on the walls for viewing the numbers.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the numeral is located at or near each first and second end and wherein the numerals are in diametrically opposed relationship with each other and said viewing means comprises an opening in each of the walls which is in registry with each numeral when the support member is received within a cavity.

9. The device of claim 5, wherein each of the support members comprises a plurality of equally dimensioned units which are integrally joined together at a juncture to form the first and second slots.

10. A device for aerobic step exercises, comprising:

(a) a platform having a flat top and a flat bottom surface and defining a cavity through its bottom surface;

(b) a support member having opposed first and second ends that are selectively received within the cavity, the first end defining a first opening therein of a first depth and the second end defining a second opening therein of a second depth; and

(c) means within the cavity for engaging the first and second openings.

11. The device of claim 10 and further comprising a first numeral on the support member adjacent the first end and a second numeral on the support member adjacent the second end and means on the platform for viewing the numeral when a respective end is within the cavity, each numeral indicating a height at which the top is being maintained above a support surface by the support member.

12. The device of claim 10 wherein the platform defines two cavities through its bottom surface in opposed relationship to each other and wherein there is a support member for each cavity.

13. A device for aerobic step exercising, comprising

(a) a platform having a flat top;

(b) a pair of end walls downwardly depending from opposed edges of the platform;

(c) rectangular cavities formed in the underside of the platform, adjacent to the end walls;

(d) a pair of equally dimensioned support members that each have opposed first and second ends which are dimensioned to be received within the cavities, the first and second ends defining a first and second opening therein, respectively, with the openings being in vertical alignment with each other and having a first and second depth, respectively;

(e) means in each cavity for engaging the openings when each of a selected first or second end of the support members is inserted into a cavity, so that the platform is maintained at certain selected heights above a support surface depending upon which of the first and second ends are within the cavities; and

(f) first and second numerals on each of the support members associated with a respective first and second end, each numeral representing the height that the platform, with a respective first or second end being received within the cavity, is being maintained above a surface and means on the walls for viewing the numbers.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the numeral is located at or near each first and second end and wherein the numerals are in diametrically opposed relationship with each other and said viewing means comprises an opening in each of the walls which is in registry with each numeral when the support member is received within a cavity.

15. A device for aerobic step exercises, comprising:

(a) a platform having a flat top and a flat bottom surface and defining a cavity through its bottom surface;

(b) a support member having opposed first and second ends that are selectively received within the cavity, the first end defining a first opening therein of a first depth and the second end defining a second opening therein of a second depth;

(c) means within the cavity for engaging the first and second openings; and

(d) a first numeral on the support member adjacent the first end and a second numeral on the support member adjacent the second end and means on the platform for viewing the numeral when a respective end is within the cavity, each numeral indicating a height at which the top is being maintained above a support surface by the support member.