Method of performing an aerobic exercise with use of adjustable step

• US 5,352,168 A
• Filed: 06/01/1993
• Issued: 10/04/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: William T. Wilkinson
• Original Assignee: William T. Wilkinson
• Inventors: Wilkinson, William T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crow, Stephen R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DONNELLY, JEROME W
• Application Number:
  US08/069,740
• Time in Patent Office: 490 Days
• Field of Search: 248/188.8, 248/188.9, 248/188.2, 297/12, 297/144, 297/438, 297/439, 297/197, 297/438, 108/11, 108/12, 108/157-159, 482/51, 482/52
• US Class Current: 482/55
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 3/20 Chairs or stools with vertically-adjustable seats tables with variable height A47B9/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/093 Height
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0458 Step exercisers without moving parts with movable steps A63B22/04

Abstract

A method of performing an aerobic exercise includes providing an exercise step having a base and a leg assembly. A first height level could be achieved by mounting the base directly on a support surface, such as a floor. A second height level could be achieved by detachably engaging the leg assembly to the base so as to elevate the base. In performing the aerobic exercise one of the height levels is selected and the user repeatedly steps up to and down from the top surface or horizontal platform of the base.

Claims

1. In a method of performing an aerobic exercise, the improvement being in (a) providing an exercise step having a base with four corners and a leg assembly, the base having an uppermost portion which is substantially horizontal and planar to comprise a stepping platform, the base having an apron extending downwardly from the platform and terminating in a lowermost portion which is substantially horizontal and planar and parallel to the platform, the leg assembly having a lowermost portion which is substantially horizontal and planar, mounting means on one of the base and the leg assembly, complementary mounting means on the other of the base and leg assembly for detachable engagement with the mounting means to selectively mount the leg assembly to the base, a separate set of plural legs mounted at each of the four corners of the base, each of the legs having its upper end of narrower cross sectional area than the remainder of the leg and having an opening exposed from its lowermost portion whereby a narrower upper end of one leg may be selectively inserted in a complementary shaped opening of the base or in the lowermost portion of another of the legs in the set, the openings and the narrower upper ends being the mounting means and the complementary mounting means, the platform having a first substantially horizontal height level when lowermost portion is directly on a support surface, the platform having a second substantially horizontal height level higher than the first height level when one leg from each set at each corner is mounted to the base by the engagement of the mounting means and complementary mounting means and when the lowermost portion of the leg assembly is directly on a support surface, the platform having a third substantially horizontal height level when another leg from each set at each corner is mounted to the one leg by engagement of the mounting means and complementary mounting means;

(b) selecting one of the height levels in accordance with the selective mounting and detachment of the legs to each other and to the base to provide an exercise step at the selected height level;

(c) placing the exercise step on a support surface at the selected height level; and

(d) repeatedly stepping up on to and down from the platform.

2. The method of claim 1 including mounting the leg assembly to the base to directly contact and support the base at a plurality of spaced locations.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the legs are taller than they are wide, and mounting the legs at the spaced locations.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the legs are curved around at least a portion of their side walls, and mounting each leg to the base with its curved portion at the corner of the base.

5. The method of claim 3 including performing a further exercise while repeatedly stepping up on to and down from the platform.

6. The method of claim 2 including performing a further exercise while repeatedly stepping up on to and down from the platform.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the base is hollow with a peripheral side wall which comprises the apron.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the legs are curved around at least a portion of their side walls, and mounting each leg to the base with its curved portion at the corner of the base.

9. The method of claim 7 including storing the legs within the peripheral side wall during periods of non-use of the legs.