Abstract:
A step exercising system for an aerobic step workout is constructed as a portable inclined step ramp. The ramp is sloped towards a user such that the user can step up onto the ramp at various heights, thereby regulating the degree of intensity of the workout without having to suspend the workout to adjust the step height, as is the case when using a conventional aerobic step having a raised level platform.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
         [0001]    Not Applicable  
         STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
         [0002]    Not Applicable  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0004]    This invention relates to step systems for aerobic and cardiovascular activities.  
           [0005]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0006]    By way of background, a popular form of cardiovascular training is aerobic stepping. An aerobic step workout is performed by stepping on and off a raised, level step platform. The steps are choreographed, usually performed to music, and leader-driven by an instructor in a class setting or on videotape for home exercise. Workout intensity is largely dependent on the step platform height. Presently, step platforms require a user to suspend the workout while an adjustment to height is made. This is disruptive. Additionally, a user who is becoming fatigued and who should probably lower the step height will not do so, and instead will continue the workout, allowing for the possibility of over fatigue and potential miss-step. Another drawback of existing level step platforms is the great amount of load placed on the knee joint while performing the step up to the level platform. To step up on a level platform, the leg is moved forward by hip flexion. At the same time, the foot is brought up to a position above the level platform by knee flexion. Once the foot is on the platform it has a surface from which to push off. The hip and knee joints go into extension to move the body up against gravity. This places the knee joint under a substantial compression load. Further, most aerobic or cardiovascular activity such as stepping will cause the participants to perspire. This perspiration has a tendency to pool on the level step platform, creating the potential for injury by slipping on the surface.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The foregoing problems are solved and an advance in the art is obtained by a novel step exercising system for an aerobic step workout comprising a portable inclined step ramp. The ramp is sloped towards a user such that the user can step onto the ramp at various height levels, thereby easily regulating the degree of intensity of the workout. There is no need to suspend the workout to perform a height adjustment, as is the case when using a level aerobic step platform. There is also reduced stress on the knee joint.  
           [0008]    In exemplary embodiments of the invention, the ramp is configured to define a front portion, a back portion, an upper workout surface portion, and an underside portion. The incline of the ramp can be provided in various ways, with adjustable legs or other incline members being preferred so that the incline of the ramp can be altered. The legs can be permanently or removably attached to the underside portion of the ramp proximate to the back portion thereof. In addition, adjustable legs can also be mounted to the front portion of the ramp so as to allow the overall height of the ramp to be varied. The ramp can also have one or more additional features, such as a radiussed leading edge on the ramp&#39;s front portion for contacting an independent support surface. Further, the ramp can be formed with grooves that channel perspiration from the upper work surface portion of the ramp and serve to visually divide the ramp into multiple workout areas, such as a central workout area and two lateral workout areas. Each workout area can be color-coded so as to allow a user to follow a choreographed routine. The front of the center workout area may be recessed relative to the lateral workout areas so as to facilitate easier access to all workout areas by the user. The upper workout surface portion is preferably configured with a non-slip surface. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, in which:  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a front perspective view showing a step exercising system constructed in accordance with the invention;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the step exercising system of FIG. 1;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the step exercising system of FIG. 1;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is a detailed perspective view of an exemplary height adjustable incline member for the step exercising system of FIG. 1;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 is a front perspective view showing a modification of the step exercising system of FIG. 1;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 6 is a side elevational view showing the modified step exercising system of FIG. 5;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of the step exercising system of FIG. 1 as it is intended to be used during an aerobic step workout; 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0017]    A step exercising system for an aerobic workout will now be described by way of exemplary embodiments shown by the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals indicate like elements in all of the several views.  
         [0018]    Turning to FIGS.  1 - 3 , a step exercising system  2  in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown at rest on a support surface S (see FIG. 3), such as a floor. The step exercising system  2  includes a portable inclined aerobic step ramp  10 , whose overall configuration is best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. It will be appreciated that the ramp  10  can be made of any suitable material capable of supporting a person stepping thereon. Examples include but are not limited to plastics such as ABS (acetyl butyl stylrene), polyethylene or the like. The ramp  10  can be formed with such materials using a blow mold technique, pressure forming, or injection molding. As an alternative to plastic, other material such as metal (e.g. aluminum) could be used to form the ramp  10 .  
         [0019]    Although shown as being semi-circular in shape, the ramp  10  may be constructed in various configurations, depending on design preferences. Such shape variations notwithstanding, the ramp will generally define a front portion  12  adapted to face a user and a back portion  14  that lies away from the user. The ramp  10  will further define an upper workout surface portion  20  and an underside portion  22 . As can been seen in FIG.  3 , the back portion  14  is positioned at a height which is above the front portion  12  relative to the support surface S, such that the upper workout surface portion  20  is inclined toward the person at a constant angle during use. Moreover, the leading edge  24  of the front portion  12  preferably rests on the support surface S, so as to facilitate easy stepping onto the ramp  10 . The ramp  10  will preferably be constructed such that the incline of the upper workout surface portion  20  has about a 10-30 degree angle relative to the support surface S. An angle of incline less than about 10 degrees will be too small to facilitate an adequate workout, and an angle greater than about 30 degrees will be too large to enable the user to step securely up onto the ramp  10  and will tend to hyper extend the achilles tendon. It will be appreciated that the inclined configuration of the ramp can be provided in various ways. In FIGS.  1 - 3 , the incline is provided by mounting incline members in the form of adjustable legs  26  to the underside portion  22 , proximate to the back portion  14 . Other types of incline members could also be used, such as non-adjustable legs, frames, blocks, or otherwise. Another alternative would be to form the ramp  10  as a wedge-shaped structure in which the back portion  14  is thicker than the front portion  12 .  
         [0020]    The legs  26  in the ramp embodiment of FIGS.  1 - 3  can be made of any suitable material capable of supporting a person, including plastics as described above, and metals. The legs  26  can be attached to the underside portion  22  in any suitable fashion. For example, if the ramp  10  is molded, the legs  26 , or a portion thereof, could be integrally formed with the ramp  10  during the molding process so as to be built-in to the ramp  10 . Other alternatives include attachment by welding, bolting, threading or the like, depending on whether the legs are to be permanently or removably attached to the ramp  10 .  
         [0021]    The legs  26  are constructed with a height adjustable feature so that the incline angle of the ramp  10  can be altered. FIG. 4 illustrates one example of a leg  26  having height adjustment capability. As shown in FIG. 4, the leg  26  comprises an inner tubular member  31  that is slidably disposed within, and surrounded by, an independent outer tubular member  33  that is attached to the ramp  10 . The inner tubular member  31  is thus capable of telescoping from the outer structure  33 , allowing for a change in length of the leg  26 . The inner tubular member  31  may be secured in position relative to the outer tubular member  33  in various ways.  
         [0022]    In FIG. 4, the outer tubular member  33  is constructed with a slotted opening  35  and the inner tubular member  31  is constructed with a protruding pin member  37  that is received in the slotted opening  35 . The slotted opening  35  includes two horizontal channels  41  connected by a vertical channel  43 . To adjust the length of the leg  26  (thereby adjusting the height and incline of the ramp  10 ), the inner tubular member  31  is rotated so that the pin member  37  can be slid from a fixed point  45  in one of the horizontal channels  41 , then through the vertical channel  43  of the slotted opening  35 , and to another fixed position  47  in the other horizontal channel  41 . Note that additional horizontal channels  41  can be provided depending on the number of height adjustments desired. Other adjustment arrangements could also be used, including pins inserted through holes in the inner tubular member  31  and outer tubular member  33 .  
         [0023]    The legs  26  can further be mounted with a slip-resistant tip  49  at the end, which rests on the support surface S. The tip  49  may be made of any suitable slip-resistant material, including but not limited to silicone rubber, high friction plastic, or otherwise.  
         [0024]    As best shown in FIG. 4, the front portion  12  of the ramp  10  may be constructed with a radius on the leading edge  24 . The radius enables the leading edge  24  to contact the support surface S without damaging it, as might be the case from a squared edge. The radius also facilitates ramp angle changes by allowing the leading edge  24  to contact the support surface at various locations. In addition, the radius provides a friendlier contact surface with a user.  
         [0025]    Turning now to FIGS. 5 and 6, an alternative construction of the ramp  10  is shown wherein the underside  22  mounts adjustable legs  52  proximate to the front portion  12  of the ramp  10 . The adjustable legs  52  directly contact the support surface S and enable the leading edge  24  to be positioned above the support surface rather than resting directly thereon. This allows a user to intensify the workout by having a higher initial starting point for the workout.  
         [0026]    As can be seen in any of FIGS.  1 - 2  and  5 , and as further illustrated in FIG. 7, the upper workout surface portion  20  of the ramp  10  comprises grooves  54  that divide the surface into visually distinct workout areas. The grooves  54  can be formed in a variety of ways. If the ramp  10  is formed as a single unit, the grooves  54  can be formed therein during the fabrication process or thereafter in subsequent processing. Alternatively, the grooves  54  could be defined by fabricating the ramp  10  as separate sections that are suitably fastened together such that a space is formed between adjacent sections to define the grooves  54 .  
         [0027]    In the embodiments of FIGS.  1 - 3  and  5 , the grooves  54  divide the upper workout surface portion  20  into three visually distinct workout areas, namely, a center workout area  55  and two distinct side workout areas  56  adjacent to the center workout area  55 . Other configurations in which the number and arrangement of workout areas is different could also be used. To further visually differentiate the workout areas  55  and  56 , and to enable a user to follow a step workout choreographed to different workout areas, the workout areas  55  and  56  can be color-coded.  
         [0028]    The workout areas  55  and  56  are also preferably constructed with a non-slip surface configuration. The non-slip configuration could be provided by suitably texturing the upper workout surface portion  20  in its initial construction. Alternatively, the non-slip configuration can be provided by a separate material that is directly applied to the workout areas  55  and  56  after initial construction, as by spraying, brushing, or adhering. Examples include, but are not limited to, textured paints, rubber coatings, or various inserts or stickers made of rubber, sand paper, or other materials.  
         [0029]    Note that the center workout area  55  is constructed with a recess  59  at the front portion  12  of the ramp  10 . The recess  59  is adapted to enable a user easier access to the two side workout areas  56  such that the user may contact a side workout area  56  without stepping over the center workout area  55 , as will now be described.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 7 shows the ramp  10  as it would be used during a typical workout. It is assumed that the ramp  10  includes plural workout areas as described above. First, a user  70  can predetermine the overall incline of the ramp  10  by adjusting the length of the legs  26  (when included in the ramp&#39;s construction). Next, the ramp is placed on the support surface S with the leading edge  24  in direct contact with the support surface S (or above the support surface S if the ramp  10  is so constructed and the user desires such a setup). The ramp  10  remains in this constant position throughout the workout. The user  70  stands facing the ramp  10  proximate to the leading edge  24  of the front portion  12 . The user  70  steps on and off the various workout areas  58  of the upper work surface portion  20  of the ramp  10  as dictated by a choreographed workout. Throughout the workout, the user  70  can vary the height of each step by choosing a point (e.g.  81 ,  82 , or  83 ) of contact on the ramp  10  and thereby modifying the intensity of the workout.  
         [0031]    Accordingly, a system for an aerobic step workout has been disclosed. While various embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it should be apparent that many variations and alternative embodiments could be implemented in accordance with the teachings herein. It is understood, therefore, that the invention is not to be in any way limited except in accordance with the spirit of the appended claims and their equivalents.