Impact absorbing exercise platform

• US 7,131,934 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2003
• Issued: 11/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Indian Industries Incorporated (Escalade Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Sop Services Incorporated (Escalade Incorporated)
• Inventors: Dadbeh, Bemanali H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Donnelly, Jerome
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tam
• Application Number:
  US10/703,926
• Publication Number:
  US 20050101444A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,096 Days
• Field of Search: 482/51, 482/52, 482/121, 482/123, 482/129, 482/130, 482/142, 482/148, 482/146, 482/147, 446/325, 446/396, 441/74, 441/79, 267/141
• US Class Current: 482/52
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0063 Shock absorbers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00047 Exercising devices not moving during use benches A63B21/4029; isometric exercising devices A63B21/0023; step exercisers A63B23/0458; walk exercisers A63B23/0464
• 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 22/00 Exercising apparatus specially adapted for conditioning the cardio-vascular system, for training agility or co-ordination of movements force-resisting aspects A63B21/00; for particular parts of the body, e.g. to strengthen particular limbs or muscles A63B23/00; electric or electronic controls therefor A63B24/00
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/10 for feet or toes

Abstract

In a basic configuration, the present system includes an adjustable top portion or platform, one or more lower portions or risers and one or more resilient members placed between the riser and the platform. Preferably the resilient members have a sufficient height to space the platform slightly above the riser, and the resilient members are partially compressible to absorb the impact when a user steps atop the platform. In preferred embodiments, the platform and/or riser include a variety of locations in which the resilient member or members may be placed or arranged to provide various levels of cushioning and/or balancing of the platform over the riser. Preferably the multi-exercise system can be used as a standard horizontal platform, as an angled platform, as a balancing platform, or a resilient member-mounting riser for aerobic exercises, stretching, yoga, balancing or exercises exercising the sole or arch of a foot.

Claims

1. An exercise platform system, comprising:

(a) a platform having a top surface for a user to step upon and a lower surface, said platform top surface defining a plane;

(b) a riser having an upper surface opposing said lower surface of said platform, said riser upper surface defining a plane;

(c) at least one spherical resilient member;

(d) wherein said lower surface of said platform defines at least one recess for receiving a portion of said at least one resilient member and said upper surface of said riser defines at least one recess for receiving a portion of said at least one spherical resilient member; and

,

(e) wherein said platform, said riser and said at least one resilient member are combinable to form a plurality of exercise platform configurations with said at least one resilient member disposed between said lower surface of said platform and said upper surface of said riser and spacing said platform apart from said riser, said plurality of configurations including;

(f) a first configuration wherein said platform top surface plane and said riser upper surface plane are substantially parallel, and,

(g) a second configuration wherein said platform top surface plane and said riser upper surface plane are substantially non-parallel wherein said recess in said upper surface of said riser and said recess in said lower surface of said platform are each sized substantially equal to each respective portion.

2. The exercise system of claim 1, comprising one or more retaining members for retaining said at least one resilient member in said at least one recess.

3. The exercise system of claim 1, wherein said upper surface of said riser defines at least one recess for receiving at least a portion of said at least one resilient member, and wherein said recess in said upper surface of said riser and said recess in said lower surface of said platform are each sized substantially equal to each respective portion.

10. The exercise system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of configurations further includes a third configuration with a plurality of resilient members disposed between said platform lower surface and said riser upper surface, wherein said plurality of resilient members are substantially arranged in an X-pattern.

4. An exercise platform system, comprising:

(a) a platform having a top surface for a user to step upon and a lower surface, said platform top surface defining a plane;

(b) a riser having an upper surface opposing said lower surface of said platform, said riser upper surface defining a plane;

(c) at least one spherical resilient member disposed between said lower surface of said platform and said upper surface of said riser and spacing said platform apart from said riser; and

,

(d) a plurality of resilient members disposed between said lower surface of said platform and said upper surface of said riser;

(e) wherein said platform, said riser, said at least one spherical resilient member and said plurality of resilient members are combinable to form a plurality of exercise platform configurations, said plurality of configurations including;

(f) a first configuration wherein said platform plane and said riser plane are substantially parallel, and,

(g) a second configuration wherein said platform plane and said riser plane are substantially non-parallel wherein said upper surface of said riser defines a plurality of recesses for receiving at least a portion of said resilient members, said lower surface of said platform defines a plurality of recesses for receiving at least a portion of the resilient members and said recesses in said upper surface of said riser and said recesses in said lower surface of said platform are each sized substantially equal to each respective portion of the resilient members.

5. The exercise system of claim 4, wherein said resilient members are spherical and wherein said recesses in said platform and said riser are substantially hemispherical and sized to receive portions of said resilient members.

11. The exercise system of claim 4, wherein said plurality of configurations further includes a third configuration with a plurality of resilient members substantially arranged in a plus-shape.

6. An exercise platform system, comprising:

(a) a platform having a top surface for a user to step upon and a lower surface;

(b) a riser having an upper surface opposing said lower surface of said platform;

(c) wherein said lower surface of said platform and said upper surface of said riser define a plurality of recessed locations; and

,

(d) one or more resilient members;

(e) wherein said platform, said riser and said one or more resilient members are combinable to provide a plurality of exercise platform configurations, said plurality of configurations providing selectively adjustable resilience for a user stepping on said platform and including;

(f) a first configuration wherein a first number of said one or more resilient members are arranged to support said lower surface of said platform above said upper surface of said riser such that one side of each resilient member is in contact with the platform and a respective opposite side of each said resilient member is in contact with the riser; and

,

(g) a second configuration wherein a second number of said one or more resilient members support said lower surface of said platform above said upper surface of said riser such that one side of each resilient member is in contact with the platform and a respective opposite side of each said resilient member is in contact with the riser and wherein the second number is different from said first number.

7. The exercise system of claim 6, wherein at least one of said plurality of recessed locations has a circular cross-section.

8. The exercise system of claim 7, wherein said plurality of recessed locations are substantially hemispherical and sized to receive portions of said resilient members.

9. The exercise system of claim 6, comprising one or more retaining members for retaining said one or more resilient members in said plurality of recessed locations.

12. The exercise system of claim 6, wherein said plurality of configurations further includes a third configuration with a plurality of resilient members disposed between said lower surface of said platform and said upper surface of said riser substantially in an X-pattern.

13. The exercise system of claim 6, wherein said first number equals the number of said recessed locations in said platform and said second number is less than the number of said recessed locations in said platform.