Abstract:
An exercise device and method of use thereof, including an exercise platform and an incline base that can be used together or separately. The exercise device can be used for aerobics, strength-training and yoga or a combination thereof. The exercise platform can be rectilinear U-shaped and can include pull rings and exercise tubes connected thereto and the incline base can be adjustable from a horizontal position to variable degrees of incline.

Description:
[0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/737,066, filed Nov. 16, 2005, entitled “Exercise Device”, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to a device for exercising. More particularly this invention relates to a yoga prop used for multidimensional exercises such as yoga, strength-training, aerobics and meditation.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The use of indoor exercising equipment is well known in today&#39;s health-conscious world. Aerobic exercise devices in particular have been used. One example of such an aerobic exercise device is an apparatus that basically functions as a single step and is typically square or rectangular, having one raised platform or surface, and that allows a person to begin a series of step up and step down motions from the floor. While these devices work quite well, they are somewhat limited in the range of action and exercises permitted. A practitioner also cannot easily use the aerobic device for other dimensions of workouts, such as yoga, strength-training, or meditation. The practitioner is also not able to combine various workout techniques.  
         [0004]     It is well known that a yoga practitioner must assume different postures for performing different yoga exercises. Since yoga exercises can be complicated to perform, a person who is going to start a yoga program may encounter many difficulties. Such a person may have no time for lengthy study, may not be sufficiently persistent, or may not have a trainer for providing competent help. The practitioner may also not have adequate flexibility to properly perform various poses or positions. Flexibility decreases as a person ages which produces decreased mobility and function ability and can increase likelihood of injury.  
         [0005]     Meditation is an increasingly popular technique for stress reduction and/or spiritual growth. Meditation is practiced in many positions, including sitting, and reclining. Most meditation devices cannot be used for performing both the sitting and reclining positions or be used for combining various other workouts.  
         [0006]     The fusion of aerobics, strength-training, yoga and meditation is an ideal venue for basic health, weight loss, and weight maintenance. It is now common knowledge that this society suffers from epidemic obesity levels. Aerobics and strength-training have long been known to aid fat loss and improve body composition. Yoga and meditation have more recently been understood to assist in weight loss, maintenance and improved body composition as well.  
         [0007]     It would be desirable to provide a device for multidimensional workouts, such as yoga, strength-training, aerobics and meditation, which is inexpensive, easy to use, and permits: (1) different yoga and meditation postures and poses; (2) aerobic training in a simple and easy manner; and (3) strength-training.  
         [0008]     It would further be desirable to provide a device for multidimensional workouts with one piece of equipment.  
         [0009]     It would further be desirable to provide a device that meets the needs for an all around yoga prop and method of use which can be used to get inflexible practitioners into yoga poses and more flexible practitioners into deeper yoga poses which have the anatomically correct position required to accurately perform the pose for optimal gain and minimal injury.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     The invention provides an exercise device and method of use thereof for multidimensional workouts such as yoga, aerobics, strength-training, and meditation.  
         [0011]     The invention provides such an exercise device and method of use thereof with a wide range of versatility as to enable the practitioner to encompass a more diverse array of exercises. More particularly, the invention provides a device for yoga exercising so that yoga exercises may be safely and correctly executed, and progressively improved substantially independent from the practitioner&#39;s age, weight, inclination and ability.  
         [0012]     In one embodiment the present invention provides an exercise platform which is elevated from the ground and has two exterior side walls, a back wall and two front walls, all of which are perpendicular to the floor, and a top surface that is parallel to the floor and is attached to the exterior side, back and front walls. The exercise platform of the present embodiment has a hollow recess which is the space enclosed by two interior side walls perpendicular to the floor and parallel to the exterior side walls, which both connect to the same back wall and separate front walls and is enclosed by the top surface. The hollow recess provides storage space as well as other functions for the incline base described hereinafter. The exercise platform may be used in combination with or separately from the above mentioned incline base of the present invention.  
         [0013]     In one embodiment of the present invention the exercise platform has a rectilinear U-shape that is elevated to the height of a conventional human step, which, for example, can be from 4 inches (10.2 cm) to 12 inches (30.5 cm), and has two exterior side walls, a back wall and two front walls, all of which are perpendicular to the floor, and a top surface that is parallel to the floor and is attached to the exterior side, back and front walls. The exercise platform of this embodiment also has a hollow recess which is the space enclosed by two interior side walls perpendicular to the floor and parallel to the exterior side walls, which both connect to the same back wall and separate front walls and is partially enclosed by the top surface and not enclosed by a recessed portion of the top surface, the amount of top surface enclosing the hollow recess being determined by the removed area of the recessed portion, the recessed portion giving the exercise platform a rectilinear U-shape. The hollow recess is sized in length and width to permit sufficient volume and area where the practitioner may at least plant two feet on the ground within the hollow recess where the recessed portion of the top surface has been removed, with some space left over to permit active and vigorous step up and step down motions with one or two feet within the hollow recess. The hollow recess is also used for various other exercises that require some of the practitioner&#39;s body be positioned therein. The width of the hollow recess is determined to accommodate practitioners of varying size, and may be changed for different embodiments of the present invention. The exercise platform will also help the practitioner perform deeper and more difficult yoga poses, and also allows the inflexible practitioner to develop flexibility correctly and safely. More particularly, the exercise platform&#39;s hollow recess will enable the practitioner to intensify, practice, and deepen twists, postures, poses, and stretches by providing resistance and support and other useful benefits.  
         [0014]     The exercise platform may also comprise exercise tubes fastened to the front, back, and side walls of the exercise platform. The exercise tubes are designed to be positioned inside rectilinear cavities which are created when recessed portions of the two sides of the top surface and upper ends of the two exterior side walls have been removed. The exercise tubes are used to enhance a stretch and to develop various workouts and routines.  
         [0015]     The exercise platform may also comprise pull rings that can be attached to the exercise platform by fasteners located on the two back corners of the top surface or by fasteners attached to a fastener support located on the underside of the top surface. The pull rings fastened to the underside of the top surface can be thread through removed recessed portions of the interior and exterior side walls as well. The pull rings are used to help enhance and develop various exercise workouts and routines.  
         [0016]     The invention provides an incline base that is adjustable to allow for varying degrees of incline, different flexibility levels of practitioners and which can be used in combination with or separately from the exercise platform of the present invention. The incline base can be used to enhance and develop various exercise routines such as yoga and meditation poses as well as other workouts. The incline base, when not being used, can be stored within the hollow recess of the exercise platform  
         [0017]     In an embodiment of the present invention, the incline base is used in combination with the exercise platform. More particularly, the combination exercise platform and incline base can be used as a yoga prop, which allows the practitioner to get into a yoga pose more deeply, and also allows the inflexible user to develop flexibility correctly and safely. The yoga prop develops and safely improves flexibility by adjusting the degree of the slope of the incline base and by also having the practitioner position themselves higher or lower on the incline base. The yoga prop can be used to combine various exercise routines and produce a fusion workout which is desirable and meets the needs of a busy, multi-tasking society. The yoga prop can enhance and develop various workouts and routines, more particularly the yoga prop can help perform: (1) numerous yoga sitting poses—by lifting the butt and hips so as to allow the practitioner to twist and bend forward from the hips, not the waist, thus not rounding the back preventing poor form and injury; (2) the Down Dog—by giving extension to the upper body by placing hands higher or lower on the incline base as the practitioner&#39;s flexibility will allow so as to help ground the practitioner&#39;s lower body; (3) ½ Bow Pose—by providing necessary lift so the practitioner can grab his/her foot and by supplementing with the exercise platform to push away from so as to intensify or deepen the pose; (4) Bow Pose—by providing lift so practitioner can grab both ankles, and by using the incline where the stomach connects as an object to push away from, which supplements the proper action of the pose; (5) reclining pose—by providing lift to allow for greater hip and total front body openings and by supplementing with the exercise platform&#39;s exercise tubes so as to provide an anchored pose and additional lengthening and stretching capability; and (6) meditation chair—by providing varying degrees of lift for practitioners with varying degrees of flexibility so that the position is comfortable yet challenging.  
         [0018]     Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]      FIGS. 1A, 1B , and  1 C illustrate a front perspective view, a back perspective view, and a bottom view of one embodiment of an exercise platform of the present invention.  
         [0020]      FIGS. 2A, 2B ,  2 C and  2 D illustrate a front perspective view, a back perspective view, a bottom view and a top view of a second embodiment of the exercise platform of the present invention.  
         [0021]      FIGS. 3A, 3B ,  3 C,  3 D and  3 E illustrate a top view of a top surface, a side view of an exterior side wall, a front perspective view without exercise tubes, a front perspective view with exercise tubes and a back perspective view with exercise tubes of a third embodiment of the exercise platform of the present invention.  
         [0022]      FIGS. 4A, 4B ,  4 C,  4 D, and  4 E illustrate a front perspective view, a back perspective view, two side views of interior side walls, and a perspective view of a pull ring of a fourth embodiment of the exercise platform of the present invention.  
         [0023]      FIGS. 5A, 5B  and  5 C illustrate a side view with a degree of incline, a side view with no incline (slant board is in resting position), and a bottom view of an embodiment of the incline base of the present invention.  
         [0024]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  illustrate a front perspective view and back perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0025]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  illustrate a front perspective view and back perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0026]      FIG. 8  illustrates a front perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0027]      FIG. 9  illustrates a front perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0028]     Referring now to the drawings, and in particular FIGS.  1 A-C, an embodiment of the invention is shown generally as exercise platform  100  being made of wood, plastic or some other durable solid material and having parallel exterior side walls  102  and  103 , interior side walls  104  and  105  which are parallel with exterior side walls  102  and  103 , back wall  108  which is parallel with front walls  106  and  107  and perpendicular to exterior side walls  102  and  103  and interior side walls  104  and  105 , front wall  106  being the selected space between exterior side wall  102  and interior side wall  104 , and front wall  107  being the selected space between exterior side wall  103  and interior side wall  105  (as shown in  FIG. 1C ). These walls are sturdy enough to support a large human being that is standing or sitting on top surface  101  which is parallel to the ground or floor and perpendicular to walls  102 ,  103 ,  104 ,  105 ,  106 ,  107  and  108 . A hollow recess  109  is shown in  FIG. 1A  and is enclosed vertically on three sides by interior side walls  104 ,  105  and back wall  108  as well as being enclosed by top surface  101 . The hollow recess  109  is sized in length and width to comfortably accommodate, for use and storage, the incline base described herein.  
         [0029]      FIGS. 2A-2D  show an alternative embodiment of the exercise platform of the present invention which is similar to the embodiment of exercise platform  100 , and is shown generally as exercise platform  200  being made of wood, plastic or some other solid durable material, having parallel exterior side walls  202  and  203 , interior side walls  204  and  205  which are parallel with exterior side walls  202  and  203 , back wall  208  which is parallel with front walls  206  and  207  and perpendicular to exterior side walls  202  and  203  and interior side walls  204  and  205 , front wall  206  being the selected space between exterior side wall  202  and interior side wall  204 , and front wall  207  being the selected space between exterior side wall  203  and interior side wall  205 . These walls are sturdy enough to support a large human being that is standing or sitting on top surface  201  which is parallel to the ground or floor and perpendicular to walls  202 ,  203 ,  204 ,  205 ,  206 ,  207  and  208 . A hollow recess  210  is enclosed vertically on three sides by interior side walls  204 ,  205  and back wall  208  as well as being enclosed partially by top surface  201  by a predetermined length. The predetermined length being the area remaining after recessed portion  211  has been removed from the top surface (as shown in  FIG. 2D ), recessed portion  211  giving the exercise platform a rectilinear U-shape as well as giving the hollow recess  210  a top opening. Recessed portion  211  and hollow recess  210  are sized in length and width to comfortably accommodate both feet of a practitioner in a standing position for use as a step down and to accommodate, for use and storage, the incline base described herein.  
         [0030]      FIGS. 3A-3E  show an alternative embodiment of the exercise platform of the present invention which is similar to the embodiment of exercise platform  200  and is shown generally as exercise platform  300  being made of wood, plastic or some other durable solid material, having parallel exterior side walls  302  and  303 , interior side walls  304  and  305  which are parallel with exterior side walls  302  and  303 , back wall  308  which is parallel with front walls  306  and  307  and perpendicular to exterior side walls  302  and  303  and interior side walls  304  and  305 , front wall  306  being the selected space between exterior side wall  302  and interior side wall  304 , and front wall  307  being the selected space between exterior side wall  303  and interior side wall  305 . These walls are sturdy enough to support a large human being that is standing or sitting on top surface  301  which is parallel to the ground or floor and perpendicular to walls  302 ,  303 ,  304 ,  305 ,  306 ,  307  and  308 . A hollow recess  310  is enclosed vertically on three sides by interior side walls  304 ,  305  and back wall  308  as well as being enclosed partially by the top surface  301  by a predetermined length. Exterior vertical side walls  302  (as shown in  FIG. 3B ) and  303  have recessed portions  313  removed from the upper portion of each exterior side wall  302  and  303  forming projections  302   a ,  302   b ,  303   a  and  303   b , projections  302   a  and  303   a  being attached vertically to back wall  308 , and projection  302   b  being attached vertically to front wall  306  and projection  303   b  being vertically attached to front wall  307 . Top surface  301  has recessed portions  314  forming projections  301   a ,  301   b ,  301   a ′, and  301   b ′, projections  301   a  and  301   b  being perpendicularly attached to projections  302   a  and  302   b  respectively, and projections  301   a ′ and  301   b ′ being perpendicularly attached to projections  303   a  and  303   b  respectively (as shown in  FIG. 3A ). Recessed portions  313  and  314  align perpendicularly to form rectilinear cavities  315  (as shown in  FIG. 3C ). Exercise tubes  316  are configured to fit into rectilinear cavities  315 , the exercise tubes  316  being fastened to back wall  308  and front walls  306  and  307  respectively (as shown in  FIGS. 3D and 3E ) and can be made from rubber or hard plastic. The exercise tubes could also be fastened to the inside of exterior side walls  302  and  303 .  
         [0031]      FIGS. 4A-4E  show an alternative embodiment of the exercise platform of the present invention which is similar to the embodiment of exercise platform  300 , and is shown generally as exercise platform  400  being made of wood, plastic or some other durable solid material, having parallel exterior side walls  402  and  403 , interior side walls  404  and  405  which are parallel with exterior side walls  402  and  403 , back wall  408  which is parallel with front walls  406  and  407  and perpendicular to exterior side walls  402  and  403  and interior side walls  404  and  405 , front wall  406  being the selected space between exterior side wall  402  and interior side wall  404 , and front wall  407  being the selected space between exterior side wall  403  and interior side wall  405 . These walls are sturdy enough to support a large human being that is standing or sitting on top surface  401  which is parallel to the ground or floor and perpendicular to walls  402 ,  403 ,  404 ,  405 ,  406 ,  407  and  408 . A hollow recess  410  is enclosed vertically on three sides by interior side walls  404 ,  405  and back wall  408  as well as being enclosed partially by the top surface by a predetermined length. Rectilinear cavities  415  contain exercise tubes  416 . Fasteners  420  can be attached onto the exercise platform at various locations and most preferably on projections  401   a  and  401   a ′ of top surface  401  and to the underside of top surface  401  and into a fastener support  421  centrally located in hollow recess  410 . The fasteners  420  can be made from a metallic material and are used for attaching pulls rings  418  to the exercise platform. Interior vertical walls  404  and  405  have recessed portions  417  removed from the upper portions of each interior side wall creating projections  404   a ,  404   b ,  405   a  and  405   b  (as shown in  FIGS. 4C and 4D ), projections  404   a  and  405   a  being attached to back wall  408 , projection  404   b  being attached to front wall  406 , and projection  405   b  being attached to front wall  407 . The pull rings  418  fastened to the underside of the top surface can be thread through recessed portion  417  and through rectilinear void  415  to be used to enhance and develop exercise workout and routines (as shown in  FIG. 4A ). The pull rings  418  can also be attached to fasteners  420  located on projections  401   a  and  401   a ′ to vary exercises and workouts (as shown in  FIG. 4B ). The pull rings, as shown in  FIG. 4E , have a cord  418   b  (which can be made from elastic material such as that used in a bungee cord or rubber) that is attached at one end to clip  418   a  (which can be made from a metallic material or hard plastic) and at the opposite end to handle  418   c  (which can be made from a metallic material or hard plastic).  
         [0032]     Referring to FIGS.  5 A-C, another embodiment of the present invention is shown generally as incline base  500 , having platform  501  being connected by adjustable sliding fasteners  502  to slant board  503 . The slant board  503  has top surface  503   a  which is attached on the underside to two side walls  503   b  and  503   c , which are parallel to each other and recessed a predetermined distance from the side edges of top surface  503   a , and front wall  503   d  being attached perpendicularly to side walls  503   b  and  503   c  as well as to the front underside of top surface  503   a  (as shown in  FIG. 5C ). Sliding fasteners  502  are connected to slant board  503 &#39;s recessed side walls  503   b  and  503   c  as well as to a top surface  501   a  of platform  501  (as shown  FIG. 5A ). The slide fasteners, which can be made from a metallic material, are adjustable, and allow the slant board  503  to have varying degrees of incline, from a complete resting position where the slant board  503  is sitting parallel to the top surface  501   a  of platform  501  (as shown in  FIG. 5B ), to gradual degrees of incline, to a sharp slope, the degree of incline being chosen in accordance with the practitioner&#39;s flexibility, desired workout routine, degree of difficulty and other factors. The incline base is designed to fit into the hollow recess  109  of exercise platform  100  and the hollow recesses  210 ,  310 , and  410  of exercise platforms  200 ,  300  and  400  for use and storage. Incline base  500  also can also be used as an addition to the top surface of exercise platform  100 . The incline base  500  of the present feature being used in combination with or separable from the exercise platform features of the invention to enhance and develop various exercise routines such as yoga and meditation poses as well as other various workouts.  
         [0033]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  show a preferred embodiment of the present invention which is presented generally as yoga prop  1  and shows exercise platform  400  being used in combination with incline base  500 , which is sized to fit within hollow recess  410  of exercise platform  400  with varying degrees of incline.  
         [0034]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  show an alternative embodiment of the present invention which is presented generally as yoga prop  2  and shows exercise platform  100  being used in combination with incline base  500 .  
         [0035]      FIG. 8  is an alternative embodiment of the present invention which is presented generally as yoga prop  3  and shows incline base  500  being stored in a resting position, incline base  500  being sized fit into hollow recess  610  of alternate exercise platform embodiment  600  which has fasteners  620  and pull rings  618 .  
         [0036]      FIG. 9  is an alternative embodiment of the present invention which is presented generally as yoga prop  4  and shows incline base  500  being stored in a resting position and being sized to fit into hollow recess  709  of alternate exercise platform embodiment  700  which has fasteners  720 , pull rings  718 , recessed cavities  715  and exercise tubes  716 .  
         [0037]     Although particular embodiments have been disclosed herein in detail, this has been done for purposes of illustration only, and is not intended to be limiting with respect to the scope of the claims. In particular, it is contemplated by the inventor that various substitutions, alterations and modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims. For instance, the choice of materials or variations in the shape or angles at which some of the surfaces intersect are believed to be a matter of routine for a person of ordinary skill in the art with knowledge of the embodiments disclosed herein.