Transformable exercise system

• US 7,311,642 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2004
• Issued: 12/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dorothy Li
• Original Assignee: Dorothy Li
• Inventors: Kern, Daniel, Li, Dorothy
• Primary Examiner(s): Amerson, Lori
• Application Number:
  US11/026,344
• Publication Number:
  US 20050164855A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,090 Days
• Field of Search: 482/904, 482/142, D21/676, D21/686, D21/690, D63/96, 108/50.11, 297/135, 312/235.9, 312/341, 5/3, 5/21, 190/11
• US Class Current: 482/142
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/06 incorporated in cabinets
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0458 Step exercisers without moving parts with movable steps A63B22/04
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0036 Accessories for stowing, putting away or transporting exercise apparatus or sports equipment A63B47/00, A63B55/00, A63B60/56 take precedence

Abstract

A transformable exercise system includes a horizontal surface supported at opposite ends by legs, and defining a space below the horizontal surface and between the legs. The horizontal surface can be at a height suitable for use as a furniture item and as an exercise bench. A storage drawer can be positioned in the space between the legs. The storage drawer can be dimensioned to closely fit within the space and has a removable cover that is configured to also serve as an aerobic step.

Claims

1. A transformable exercise system comprising:

a horizontal surface supported at opposite ends by legs, and defining a space below the horizontal surface and between the legs, the horizontal surface being at a height suitable for use as a furniture item and as an exercise bench; and

a storage drawer positioned between the legs in said space, the storage drawer being dimensioned to closely fit within said space and having a removable cover that is configured to also serve as an aerobic step, the cover having a construction with a strength that withstands a person'"'"'s weight performing step aerobics, the cover having rigid side walls and corner posts extending from a bottom of the cover, two opposed tabs extend upwardly from the storage drawer for engaging the side walls of the cover, the corner posts and the opposed tabs centering the cover on the storage drawer.

2. The transformable exercise system of claim 1 in which the horizontal surface is rectangular in shape.

3. The transformable exercise system of claim 2 in which the horizontal surface has a padded top surface.

4. The transformable exercise system of claim 2 in which there are two legs of pedestal construction having a rectangular cross section.

5. The transformable exercise system of claim 4 in which the storage drawer has rollers for pulling the drawer out of said space.

6. The transformable exercise system of claim 5 in which the storage drawer has a bottom, the rollers being on the bottom of the drawer.

7. The transformable exercise system of claim 5 in which the drawer has a first handle formed by a first cutout in a first side wall of the drawer.

8. The transformable exercise system of claim 7 in which the drawer has a second handle formed by a second cutout on a second side wall that is opposite to the first side wall for allowing the drawer to be pulled from said space from opposite sides of the exercise system.

9. The transformable exercise system of claim 8 in which the removable cover has a non-skid top surface, non-skid bottom surfaces on the corner posts, and handles formed by cutouts in two opposite side walls.

10. A method of forming a transformable exercise system comprising:

supporting a horizontal surface at opposite ends by legs, and defining a space below the horizontal surface and between the legs, the horizontal surface being at a height suitable for use as a furniture item and as an exercise bench; and

positioning a storage drawer between the legs in said space, the storage drawer being dimensioned to closely fit within said space and having a removable cover that is configured to also serve as an aerobic step, the cover having a construction with a strength that withstands a person'"'"'s weight performing step aerobics, the cover having rigid side walls and corner posts extending from a bottom of the cover, two opposed tabs extend upwardly from the storage drawer for engaging the side walls of the cover, the corner posts and the opposed tabs centering the cover on the storage drawer.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising forming the horizontal surface to be rectangular in shape.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising providing the horizontal surface with a padded top surface.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising providing two legs of pedestal construction having a rectangular cross section.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising providing the storage drawer with rollers for pulling the drawer out of said space.

15. The method of claim 14 in which the storage drawer has a bottom, the method further comprising positioning the rollers on the bottom of the drawer.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising providing the drawer with a first handle formed by a first cutout in a first side wall of the drawer.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising providing the drawer with at second handle formed by at second cutout on a second side wall that is opposite to the first side wall for allowing the drawer to be pulled from said space from opposite sides of the exercise system.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising providing the removable cover with a non-skid top surface, non-skid bottom surfaces on the corner posts, and handles formed by cutouts in two opposite side walls.

19. A method of transforming a transformable exercise system having:

a horizontal surface supported at opposite ends by legs, and defining at space below the horizontal surface and between the legs, the horizontal surface being at a height suitable for use as a furniture item and as an exercise bench, and

a storage drawer positioned between the legs in said space, the storage drawer being dimensioned to closely fit within said space and having a removable cover, the method comprising;

pulling the storage drawer from said space; and

removing the removable cover and placing the cover on the ground, the cover being configured to serve as an aerobic step, the cover having a construction with a strength that withstands a person'"'"'s weight performing step aerobics, the cover having rigid side walls and corner posts extending from a bottom of the cover, two opposed tabs extend upwardly from the storage drawer for engaging the side walls of the cover, the corner posts and the opposed tabs centering the cover on the storage drawer.