US20070167301A1

US20070167301A1 - Exercise device

Info

Publication number: US20070167301A1
Application number: US11/333,873
Authority: US
Inventors: Scott Evans
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-01-17
Filing date: 2006-01-17
Publication date: 2007-07-19

Abstract

An exercise device consisting of a set of “blocks” that have the purpose of better positioning a user's wrists while the user performs various exercises, such as push-ups, dips, etc. The “blocks” are composed on (or coated/covered by) a non-marring, non-click surface, so as to reduce sliding and the possibility of marking floors or walls while exercising with the device. The user holds onto the “blocks” by means of molded or inserted hands/bars/grips. Additionally, the blocks (or their handles) can be weighted with permanent or removable or exchangeable weights so as to vary the intensity of any workout/exercise performed while holding the blocks and/or their handles.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This device pertains to exercise, for example push ups, and improves upon:
(a) doing such exercise with bare hands (using no device)
(b) doing such exercise with products currently available in sporting goods stores (called “push up stands”) for which no patents exist.
The problems with (a) above are: push-up exercises put a great deal of stress on the user's wrist joints. My invention relieves this stress and positions the hands, wrist and arms in a more ideal posture for push up type exercises.
The problems with (b) above are that they are unstable—they have too high a center of gravity and lack a stable “footprint” (supporting surface). Injuries can occur because of this instability. Further, some of them can mark/mar surfaces.
Classification for my invention are:
CLASS 482, EXERCISE DEVICES
With the following specific sub-classes:

- 62 Including upper body exercise feature
- 93 Utilizing weight resistance (some embodiments of this device include free weights inserted in the handles or the main body of the device)
- 95 Body part of user utilized as weight (in prone positions, the user's body provides resistance)
- 126 Having pairs of handles
- 141 Push up device

A patent was applied for, for a product that LOOKS similar, but which did not have many of the features, and which was designed for different use. I can no longer find this patent in the USPTO data base. The only information I have on this patent application (which I printed out from TESS a year ago) was:
Appilication # 20030199375
Filed on Apr. 19, 2002
My invention is an improvement on the earlier filed-for device and, as mentioned, is for different types of exercise.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An exercise device consisting of a set of “blocks” that have the purpose of better positioning a user's wrists while the user performs various exercises, such as push-ups, dips, etc. The “blocks” are composed on (or coated/covered by) a non-marring, non-click surface, so as to reduce sliding and the possibility of marking floors or walls while exercising with the device. The user holds onto the “blocks” by means of molded or inserted hands/bars/grips. Additionally, the blocks (or their handles) can be weighted with permanent or removable or exchangeable weights so as to vary the intensity of any workout/exercise performed while holding the blocks and/or their handles.
The advantages are:

- Better alignment of the user's wrists/arms/joints
- Greater stability (less likely to tip or fall while performing push-ups, dips, etc.)
- Non-skid (won't slide on smooth surfaces)
- Non-marring (won't mark

None of the existing hand-held push-up devices currently on the market provide all four advantages above.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While there can be many different embodiments of this invention, the preferred embodiment (for purposes of submitting this patent) is as follows:
FIG. #1 is a block of dense, non-marring foam (01) or other dense and/or non-marring synthetic or natural material that has the ability to hold a three-dimensional regular or irregular geometric or natural shape. In this embodiment, the block is roughly the size of a shoe-box, although it can be constructed in just about any size or configuration. There is an indentation (02) in the foam/material, into which a person's hand/fingers/knuckles can insert or otherwise grip a handle/bar. The handle or bar (03) can removable or not, and can also be weighted (or hot) to add more resistance to the user's workout; if removable, the handles can also be used separate from the blocks in a variety of additional exercises.
FIG. #2 shows that ADDITIONAL weights can be added to-the basic unit, by means of interfacing with the top (04), bottom (05) or sides (06) of the basic unit—or even inserted into hollows or chambers in the unit (07).
Other embodiments of this invention include but are not limited to:

- Circular (not rectangular), which allows for a larger support base
- Spherical (advanced exercises for additional wrist strengthening)
- Triangular or conical (allows more freedom of movement for the wrist)
- Any number of handle configurations, including protruding handles instead of indenting handles.
- Custom sizing functionality, whereby users can “cut” or otherwise shape the “blocks” to fit their individual needs.

Claims

1. A set of three-dimensional “blocks” (in the form of squares, rectangles, spheres or any regular or irregular geometric or natural shape) with the purpose and functionality of better positioning/supporting a user's hands/wrists/arms/shoulders/joints while the user performs various exercises such as push-ups, dips, etc.

2. A means of holding/gripping the blocks, such as indentations, molded handles/grips, removable or fixed handles/bars, protruding handles/bars, etc., all padded or not.

3. the quality of being composed (or covered/coated by) a non-marring material such as foam, rubber, plastic, or other synthetic or natural substance that has the additional property of reducing skidding/sliding while performing exercises.

4. The ability to add weights to the blocks and/or handles by means of affixing weights to the surface, inserting weights into hollows/chambers, and/or inserting the blocks into weighted interfacing plates, “shoes” or other interfacing objects.

5. In some embodiments, the quality of having a rounded, conical, sloping or other wise non-flat bottom surface, causing the user to bring more muscles/effort into play while performing exercises.

6. In some embodiments, the quality of being/having inflatable components, thus increasing size, flexibility and variety of exercises, with or without adding weight.