Step for exercising

• US 6,206,805 B1
• Filed: 08/21/1998
• Issued: 03/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: George E. Helton Jr, Kimberly J. Helton
• Original Assignee: George E. Helton Jr, Kimberly J. Helton
• Inventors: Helton, Kimberly J., Helton, George E. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): DONNELLY, JEROME W
• Application Number:
  US09/138,457
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 482/52, 406/05, 405/52, 425/4, D25/65, D 6/5
• US Class Current: 482/52
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0458 Step exercisers without moving parts with movable steps A63B22/04

Abstract

An exercising stepping platform using stepping motion of the user, said exercising device comprising an enlarged hexahedronal body having a plurality of top surfaces for standing thereon and a central recessed portion for stepping down into, allowing the user to step from all sides and inside the device to the upper supported rigid body walls. the top surface may include a non-skid portion to prevent slippage.

Claims

1. An exercising stepping platform for allowing a person to step up and down from a first location on a floor to a second, raised position, said exercising platform comprising:

a rigid body having an upper substantially horizontal surface to allow a person to stand thereon, said body being rigid enough to support human weight at any position along said upper horizontal surface, said body sized in height to allow stepping action from a floor adjacent said body for a human being;

said body having a lower substantially horizontal surface adapted to rest on the floor;

said body having two substantially parallel side members connected together by a transverse side member wherein said rigid body is substantially U-shaped;

a central vertical recessed hollow portion defined by said U-shaped body sized to receive both feet of a human being facing in any direction with sufficient space for stepping out of said recessed portion;

said body having length and width dimensions sized to receive a pair of human feet on said upper substantially horizontal surface of said body that defines a U-shaped perimeter around the central recessed portion, wherein a user can step from multiple directions inside and outside of the platform for an enlarged range of human stepping actions available for exercising;

means for adjusting the width dimension of said rigid body wherein said means includes said transverse side member having at least one axially extended arm member removably disposed in an aperture defined by at least one of said two substantially parallel side members;

at least one spacer member removably disposed on said at least one extended arm member to space apart said transverse side member and at least one of said two substantially parallel side members to increase the width dimension of said rigid body;

said transverse side member includes two axially extended arm members, said arm members removably disposed in two apertures, one each of said apertures defined by one of said two substantially parallel side members; and

two spacer members, one each of said two spacer members disposed between said transverse side member and one of said two substantially parallel side members.

2. A method for utilizing the exercise stepping platform of claim 1, comprising the steps of:

placing both feet within said central vertical recessed portion;

stepping upwards and outward with a first leg in a lateral direction;

placing said first leg on top of a first said side member;

stepping upwards with a second leg in an opposite lateral direction from said lateral stepping motion of said first leg;

placing said second leg on top of a second said side member such that said first and second legs straddle said recessed portion;

returning said first leg to said recessed portion;

returning said second leg to said recessed portion; and

repeating said first and second leg stepping and returning motions until said first and second legs are fatigued.

3. A method for utilizing the exercise stepping platform of claim 1, comprising the steps of:

placing both feet within said central vertical recessed portion of an exercise stepping platform;

stepping forward with a first leg;

placing said first leg on top of said transverse side member;

stepping outward with a second leg in a lateral direction;

placing said second leg on top of one of said side members;

returning said first leg to said recessed portion;

returning said second leg to said recessed portion; and

repeating said first and second leg stepping and returning motions until said first and second legs are fatigued.

4. A method for utilizing the exercise stepping platform of claim 1, comprising the steps of:

straddling one of said side members having inner and outer vertical sides, by placing a first leg on the floor substantially near said inner vertical side and within said central vertical recessed portion and placing a second leg substantially near said outer vertical side of said one of said side members;

stepping forward with said first leg;

placing said first leg on top of said transverse side member;

stepping inward with said second leg in a lateral direction;

placing said second leg on top of said one of said side members;

returning said first and second legs to their starting positions; and

repeating said first and said second leg stepping and returning motions until said first and second legs are fatigued.

5. An exercising stepping platform for allowing a person to step up and down from a first location on a floor to a second, raised position, said exercising platform comprising:

a rigid body having an upper substantially horizontal surface to allow a person to stand thereon, said body being rigid enough to support human weight at any position along said upper horizontal surface, said body sized in height to allow stepping action from a floor adjacent said body for a human being;

said body having a lower substantially horizontal surface adapted to rest on the floor;

said body having two substantially parallel side members connected together by a transverse side member wherein said rigid body is substantially U-shaped;

a central vertical recessed hollow portion defined by said U-shaped body sized to receive both feet of a human being facing in any direction with sufficient space for stepping out of said recessed portion;

said body having length and width dimensions sized to receive a pair of human feet on said upper substantially horizontal surface of said body that defines a U-shaped perimeter around the central recessed portion, wherein a user can step from multiple directions inside and outside of the platform for an enlarged range of human stepping actions available for exercising; and

means for adjusting the width dimension of said rigid body wherein said means includes said transverse side member having at least one axially extended arm member removably disposed in an aperture defined by at least one of said two substantially parallel side members.