Multi-positioned angled step and risers

• US 8,348,812 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2011
• Issued: 01/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Indian Industries Incorporated (Escalade Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Indian Industries Incorporated (Escalade Incorporated)
• Inventors: Elpers, Philip
• Primary Examiner(s): RICHMAN, GLENN E
• Application Number:
  US13/029,876
• Publication Number:
  US 20110207583A1
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• Field of Search: 482/19, 482/26, 482/35, 482/51, 482/52, 482/142, 482/148, 446/85, 446/106, 446/120, 446/124, 446/125, 446/117, 446/476, 434/403, 108/106, 248/188.2, 248/346.5, D21/336, D21/671, D21/694
• US Class Current: 482/52
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/09 Adjustable dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/04 for lower limbs training appliances for special sports A63B69/00; for the purpose of producing mechanical power F03G5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0458 Step exercisers without moving parts with movable steps A63B22/04

Abstract

An adjustable stepping structure for aerobic exercise is disclosed having a platform and a plurality of support elements. The support elements include a downwardly arcuate notch or channel for receiving a sidewall or endwall of the platform, allowing the platform to be arranged in multiple angled orientations.

Claims

1. An adjustable stepping structure for aerobic exercise, comprising:

a substantially rectangular platform having a top surface for stepping, sidewalls and endwalls, said sidewalls being laterally longer than said endwalls; and

at least two support elements, said support elements having an upper portion, a base, and a notch formed into the upper portion, the notch having a downward arcuately curved profile, the combined lateral length of the upper portions of the support elements being shorter than the lateral length of the sidewalls of the platform;

wherein the platform can be supported in a horizontal orientation relative to a floor surface by placing the platform on top of the support elements, with the upper portions of the support elements formed to nest within a lower portion of the platform;

wherein the platform can be supported in a first angled orientation relative to the floor surface by placing a first endwall of the platform on the floor surface and a second endwall of the platform into the notch of one of the support elements;

wherein the platform can be supported in a second angled orientation relative to the floor surface by placing a first sidewall of the platform on the floor surface and a second sidewall of the platform into the notch of two of the support elements; and

wherein a first angle of the top surface with respect to the floor surface in the first angled orientation is less than a second angle of the top surface with respect to the floor surface in the second angled orientation.

2. An adjustable stepping structure for aerobic exercise, comprising:

a substantially rectangular platform having a top surface for stepping, sidewalls and endwalls, said sidewalls being laterally longer than said endwalls; and

at least one support element comprising a unitary member having an upper portion, a base, an open center, and at least two parallel notches spaced on opposite sides of said support element, said notches having a downward arcuately curved profile;

wherein the platform can be supported in a horizontal orientation relative to a floor surface by placing the platform on top of the at least one support element, with the upper portion of the support element formed to nest within a lower portion of the platform;

wherein the platform can be supported in a first angled orientation relative to the floor surface by placing a first endwall of the platform on the floor surface and a second endwall of the platform into said notches;

wherein the platform can be supported in a second angled orientation relative to the floor surface by placing a first sidewall of the platform on the floor surface and a second sidewall of the platform into said notches; and

wherein a first angle of the top surface with respect to the floor surface in the first angled orientation is less than a second angle of the top surface with respect to the floor surface in the second angled orientation.

3. An adjustable stepping structure for aerobic exercise, comprising:

a substantially rectangular platform having a top surface for stepping, sidewalls and endwalls, said sidewalls being laterally longer than said endwalls; and

at least one support element having an upper portion and a base;

wherein the platform can be supported in a horizontal orientation relative to a floor surface by placing the platform on top of the at least one support element, with the upper portion of the support element formed to nest within a lower portion of the platform;

wherein the platform can be supported in a first angled orientation relative to the floor surface by placing a first endwall of the platform on the floor surface and a second endwall of the platform into a notch formed into the upper portion of the support element.

wherein said notch has a downward arcuately curved profile;

wherein the platform can be supported in a second angled orientation relative to the floor surface by placing a first sidewall of the platform on the floor surface and a second sidewall of the platform into said notch;

wherein a first angle of the top surface with respect to the floor surface in the first angled orientation is less than a second angle of the top surface with respect to the floor surface in the second angled orientation; and

wherein said sidewalls and said endwalls have a lower rounded edge shaped to sit generally flush in the notch.

4. An adjustable stepping structure of for aerobic exercise, comprising:

a substantially rectangular platform having a top surface for stepping, sidewalls and endwalls, said sidewalls being laterally longer than said endwalls; and

at least one support element having an upper portion and a base;

wherein the platform can be supported in a horizontal orientation relative to a floor surface by placing the platform on top of the at least one support element, with the upper portion of the support element formed to nest within a lower portion of the platform;

wherein the platform can be supported in a first angled orientation relative to the floor surface by placing a first endwall of the platform on the floor surface and a second endwall of the platform into a notch formed into the upper portion of the support element;

wherein said notch has a downward arcuately curved profile;

wherein the platform can be supported in a second angled orientation relative to the floor surface by placing a first sidewall of the platform on the floor surface and a second sidewall of the platform into said notch;

wherein a first angle of the top surface with respect to the floor surface in the first angled orientation is less than a second angle of the top surface with respect to the floor surface in the second angled orientation; and

wherein said notch further comprises a non-slip surface material to inhibit said sidewall and said endwall from slipping out of said notch when said platform is placed in either one of said angled orientations.

5. An adjustable stepping structure for aerobic exercise, comprising:

a substantially rectangular platform having a top surface for stepping, sidewalls and endwalls, said sidewalls being laterally longer than said endwalls; and

at least two support elements, said support elements having an upper portion, a base, and a notch formed into the upper portion, the notch having a downward arcuately curved profile;

wherein the platform can be supported in a horizontal orientation relative to a floor surface by placing the platform on top of the support elements, with the upper portion of the support elements formed to nest within a lower portion of the platform;

wherein the platform can be supported in a first angled orientation relative to the floor surface by placing a first endwall of the platform on the floor surface and a second endwall of the platform into the notch of a first one of the support elements;

wherein the platform can be supported in a second angled orientation relative to the floor surface by placing a first sidewall of the platform on the floor surface and a second sidewall of the platform into said notch;

wherein a first angle of the top surface with respect to the floor surface in the first angled orientation is less than a second angle of the top surface with respect to the floor surface in the second angled orientation;

wherein said upper portion of said support elements is formed to nest within a lower portion of an upper adjacent support element; and

wherein the platform can be supported in a third angled orientation relative to the floor surface by placing a first endwall of the platform on the floor surface and a second endwall of the platform into the notch of said first support element, said first support element being vertically stacked upon a second support element.

6. A support element for supporting an aerobic exercise platform, said support element comprising:

a generally rectangular upper portion;

a base extending laterally outward from said upper portion;

an open center cavity; and

at least two parallel notches formed into the upper portion and spaced on opposite sides of the support element for jointly supporting an endwall or a sidewall of said platform, the notches having a downward arcuately curved profile;

wherein the platform can be supported in a horizontal orientation relative to a floor surface by placing the platform on top of the support element, wherein the upper portion of the support element is formed to nest within a lower portion of the platform;

wherein the platform can be supported in a first angled orientation relative to the floor surface by placing a first endwall of the platform on the floor surface and a second endwall of the platform into the notch; and

wherein the platform can be supported in a second angled orientation relative to the floor surface by placing a first sidewall of the platform on the floor surface and a second sidewall of the platform into the notch; and

.

7. An adjustable stepping structure for aerobic exercise, comprising:

a substantially rectangular platform section comprising;

a substantially planar top surface;

two opposing sidewalls extending downward from said top surface, each of said sidewalls having a lower rounded side edge, said sidewall having a lateral sidewall length; and

two opposing endwalls extending downward from said top surface, each of said endwalls having a lower rounded end edge, each of said endwalls having a lateral endwall length;

a plurality of support elements for elevating and supporting said platform section relative to a floor surface, each one of said support elements comprising;

an upper section sized to be received within said sidewalls and said endwalls of said platform section when the platform is placed in a horizontal arrangement; and

at least one downward arcuately curved notch defined within said upper section;

wherein said platform section can be supported in a first angled orientation relative to the floor surface by placing a first end edge on the floor surface and a second end edge in said notch; and

wherein said platform section can be supported in a second angled orientation relative to the floor surface by placing a first side edge on the floor surface and a second side edge in said notch.

8. The adjustable stepping structure of claim 7,

wherein said platform section can be supported in the first angled orientation by placing a first side edge on a floor surface and a second side edge across notches in two support elements.

9. The adjustable stepping structure of claim 7,

wherein each of said support elements comprises a unitary member having an open center;

and

wherein each of said support elements further comprises at least two parallel notches spaced on opposite sides of said support element, said notches being sized to receive either said end edge or said side edge when the platform is placed in one of said angled orientations.

10. The adjustable stepping structure of claim 7,

wherein each support element further comprises at least one ledge portion, said ledge portion extending outward from said upper section and upward from said lower section;

and

wherein said platform further comprises at least one opening in said sidewall or said endwall, said opening being sized to receive said ledge portion and align a support element relative to said platform section when said platform section is placed upon a support element in the horizontal arrangement.

11. The adjustable stepping structure of claim 7,

wherein said notch further comprises a non-slip surface material to inhibit said side edge and said end edge from slipping out of said notch when said platform is placed in one of said angled arrangements.

12. The adjustable stepping structure of claim 7,

wherein said support elements and said platform have a telescoping relationship.