Exercise mat

• US 8,220,087 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2009
• Issued: 07/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bemnet Kibreab, Giovanni Villa
• Original Assignee: Bemnet Kibreab, Giovanni Villa
• Inventors: Villa, Giovanni, Kibreab, Bemnet
• Primary Examiner(s): Santos, Robert G
• Application Number:
  US12/568,574
• Publication Number:
  US 20110072581A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,023 Days
• Field of Search: 542/0, 541/7, 541/9, 5731-734, 565/2, 565/59, 574/0, 595/3, 565/7, 572/2, 572/3, 592/2, 592/5, 592/6, 482/23, 482/142, 482/148
• US Class Current: 5/420
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4037 Exercise mats for personal use, with or without hand-grips or foot-grips, e.g. for Yoga or supine floor exercises mats for absorbing shocks A63B6/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport

Abstract

An exercise comprising a mat and a plurality of supports strategically positioned for specific body parts. The supports may be integrally formed into the mat or removable. The exercise mat may further comprise a cover. The cover may have pockets or holes to receive the supports. In some embodiments, the cover and/or the top surface of the mat may comprise protuberances to reduce slippage. The bottom of the mat or the cover may be made from non-slip material.

Claims

1. An exercise mat, comprising:

a. a yoga mat, comprising;

i. a substantially planar top surface having a center; and

ii. a substantially planar bottom surface opposite the top surface, wherein the bottom surface comprises a non-slip material;

b. a plurality of supports positioned on the top surface of the yoga mat and spaced apart from the center of the yoga mat and from each other so as to accommodate a user'"'"'s upper limbs and lower limbs during an exercise, thereby creating an exposed top surface portion and a hidden top surface portion under the supports; and

c. a cover positionable on the top surface of the yoga mat, the cover having a perimeter edge that is at least substantially coextensive with the exposed top surface portion of the yoga mat so as not to cover any side surface or the bottom surface of the yoga mat

d. wherein the plurality of supports each comprise a cushioning material, and

e. wherein the plurality of supports are contoured to receive a specific limb.

2. The exercise mat of claim 1, further comprising:

a. a first pair of supports positioned on the mat to accommodate placement of a user'"'"'s upper limbs, the user'"'"'s upper limbs selected from the group consisting of a hand, a wrist, a forearm, an elbow, and a head; and

b. a second pair of supports positioned away from the first pair of supports at a distance that accommodates the placement of the exerciser'"'"'s lower limb, the lower limb selected from the group consisting of a foot, an ankle, a shin, a knee, and a thigh.

3. The exercise mat of claim 1, wherein the supports comprise a closeable opening through which the cushioning material is insertable.

4. The exercise mat of claim 1, further comprising removable supports reversibly fastened to the yoga mat.

5. An exercise mat, comprising:

a. a yoga mat, comprising a perimeter edge and a center, the perimeter edge to the center defining a substantially planar top surface and a flat bottom surface opposite the top surface, the yoga mat defined by a top edge, a bottom edge opposite the top edge, a first side edge adjacent to the top and bottom edges, and a second side edge opposite the first side edge and adjacent to the top and bottom edges; and

b. a first support and a second support positioned on and connected to the top surface of the yoga mat spaced away from the center of the yoga mat and from each other so as to accommodate a user'"'"'s body part during an exercise, wherein the first and second supports each comprises a cushioning material and has a substantially flat top surface, wherein the first support is located along the first side edge and terminates before the top and bottom edges, and wherein the second support is located along the second side edge and terminates before the top and bottom edges.

6. The exercise mat of claim 5, wherein the cushioning material is selected from the group consisting of silica gel and foam.

7. The exercise mat of claim 5, wherein at least one support is contoured to receive a specific body part.

8. The exercise mat of claim 5, further comprising:

a. a first pair of supports positioned on the mat to accommodate placement of a user'"'"'s upper limbs, the upper limbs selected from the group consisting of a hand, an elbow, a forearm, a wrist, and a head; and

b. a second pair of supports positioned away from the first pair of supports at a distance that accommodates the placement of the exerciser'"'"'s lower limb, the lower limb selected from the group consisting of a thigh, a knee, a shin, an ankle, and a foot.

9. The exercise mat of claim 5, further comprising a removable support having a fastener to reversibly attach the removable support to the yoga mat.

10. The exercise mat of claim 9, wherein the fastener is selected from the group consisting of a hook-and-loop fastener, an adhesive material, a magnet, and a highly resistive surface.

11. The exercise mat of claim 9, wherein the top surface of the yoga mat comprises a mark to identify proper placement of the removable support to accommodate the proper placement of the user'"'"'s body part for performing a desired exercise.

12. The exercise mat of claim 5, wherein at least one support comprises a closeable opening through which the cushioning material is inserted and removed.

13. The exercise mat of claim 5 further comprising a plurality of protuberances on the top surface.

14. The exercise mat of claim 5 further comprising a cover having a means for receiving the first and second supports.

15. The exercise mat of claim 14, wherein the means for receiving the first and second supports is selected from the group consisting of a pocket and a hole.

16. The exercise mat of claim 14, wherein the cover comprises a plurality of protuberances to reduce slippage.

17. An exercise mat, comprising:

a. a yoga mat, comprising a substantially flat top surface having a center, and a flat bottom surface opposite the top surface, the yoga mat defined by a top edge, a bottom edge opposite the top edge, a first side edge adjacent to the top and bottom edges, and a second side edge opposite the first side edge and adjacent to the top and bottom edges, the yoga mat defining a longitudinal axis through the center and parallel to the first and second side edges, the yoga mat defining a lateral axis through the center and parallel to the top and bottom edges; and

b. a plurality of supports positioned on the top surface of the mat and spaced away from the center of the mat so as to accommodate a user'"'"'s body parts during an exercise, wherein each support of the plurality of supports comprises a cushioning material, wherein a first set of supports of the plurality of supports is located along the first side edge, passes through the lateral axis, and terminates before the top and bottom edges, wherein a second set of supports of the plurality of supports is located along the second side edge, passes through the lateral axis, and terminates before the top and bottom edges.

18. The exercise mat of claim 17, wherein, a first support within the first set of supports deviates medially towards the longitudinal axis, and a second support within the second set of supports deviates medially towards the longitudinal axis.

19. The exercise mat of claim 17, wherein at least one support is removably attached to the yoga mat by a fastener.

20. The exercise mat of claim 19, wherein the yoga mat further comprises a mark to identify proper placement of the at least one removable support to accommodate the proper placement of the user'"'"'s body part for performing a desired exercise.

21. The exercise mat of claim 17, further comprising a cover.

22. The exercise mat of claim 21, wherein the cover further comprises a plurality of protuberances.

23. The exercise mat of claim 17, wherein the mat comprises a plurality of protuberances.