Abstract:
A pushup wedge. The pushup wedge is made of an elastomeric material with a density in the range of about  25  kg/m 2  to about  150  kg/m 2  and has a generally wedge shape with a sloping top that slopes between about  5  and  20  degrees from the horizontal from a lower front portion to a higher rear portion, wherein the rear portion has a generally curved contour. A retention strap can be further included that passes over sloping top, which retention strap is adapted for retaining a user&#39;s hand between the strap and the sloping top.

Description:
SUMMARY  
       [0001]     The invention relates to the field of exercise, sports and training equipment, and more particularly to ergonometric push up wedges to help ease the stress on a person&#39;s wrists as he or she does push ups and other similar exercises.  
         [0002]     Push ups are a basic exercise incorporated into many exercise and physical fitness programs and routines. In standard pushups, a person will position his or her body generally horizontally and straight, with the full body weight carried on the toes and hands placed on the ground, and arms fully extended straight (the starting position). From this position, the person will lower the torso to touch his/her chest to the ground, and then fully extend the arms to raise the body back to the starting position. By changing the level of the feet relative to the torso, the level of difficulty of the exercise can be varied. For example, some exercisers like to place their feet on a chair for an extra vigorous workout, while others will lean against a wall or pivot on their knees rather than their toes for less strenuous exercise.  
         [0003]     Regardless of the particular style used, one complaint that many people have with pushups is that they can be uncomfortable or put extra stress on the palms, fingers and particularly wrists of the exerciser.  
         [0004]     Numerous devices have been developed with the goal to make pushups more comfortable. For example, there are devices that comprise a pair of stands with horizontal padded grips which a user can grip while doing pushup. There are also devices that comprise padded bars that can be grasped while doing push up. However, with these devices, the push up posture is not ideal.  
         [0005]     There remains a need for an ergonometric device that makes doing push up more comfortable, productive and biomechanically correct. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]      FIG. 1  is a rear isometric view of an exemplary push up wedge of the invention.  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the exemplary push up wedge of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the exemplary push up wedge of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0009]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the exemplary push up wedge of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0010]      FIG. 5  is a diagrammatic side view of the exemplary push up wedge of  FIG. 1  showing some exemplary angle ranges for the top slanted side.  
         [0011]      FIG. 6  is a rear isometric view of another exemplary push up wedge of the invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 7  is a bottom plan view of the exemplary push up wedge of  FIG. 6 .  
         [0013]      FIG. 8  is a rear isometric view of yet another exemplary push up wedge of the invention having a retention strap.  
         [0014]      FIG. 9  is a rear isometric view of a further exemplary push up wedge of the invention with a cupped top surface.  
         [0015]      FIG. 10  is a front view of the exemplary push up wedge of  FIG. 9 .  
         [0016]      FIG. 11  is a side view of the exemplary push up wedge of  FIG. 9 .  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0017]     Turning to FIGS.  1  to  4 , there is shown view of an exemplary push up wedge  10  of the invention, with  FIG. 1  being a front isometric view,  FIG. 2  being a side view,  FIG. 3  being a front view, and  FIG. 4  being a bottom view of the exemplary push up wedge  10 . The push up wedge  10  has a top surface  12 , a front  14 , a rear  16 , left and right sides  18  and  20 , and a bottom surface  22 . Although the exemplary wedge  10  is shown with its front side  14  and rear side  16  having four planes  14   a,    14   b,    14   c  and  14   d,  and  16   a,    16   b,    16   c  and  16   d,  respectively, the wedge  10  can have a greater or lesser number of less sides, and can be curved, flat, be contoured to fit a user&#39;s fingers and the like. The top surface  12  is shown as having planes  12   a,    12   b  and  12   c  to provide an arched shaped top surface to better cup a user&#39;s palm. However, the top surface  12  can be made in a curved or other contoured shape to better fit a user&#39;s palm, or can be flat. The wedge  10  is preferably constructed of material that somewhat soft and conforming to the hand under pressure, yet is sufficient firm and resilient such that the wedge does not collapse under normal use. Materials such as ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) foam function well, and can have a density in the range of about 25 kg/m 2  to about 150 kg/m 2 , and more preferably in the range of about 42 kg/m 2  to 140 kg/m 2 , and even more preferably in the range of 65 kg/m 2  to 85 kg/m 2  with the particular density and resilience, and with hardness measured on a shore 00 scale ranging from 40±10 to 50±10, such as provided by Engineered Plastics, Inc. of Gibsonville, N.C. 27249, selected based on the body weight ranges of people who will be using the wedge  10 . For example, #2 EVA offered by Engineered Plastics, Inc. a density of 0.032±0.008 g/cm 3  (2±0.5 lb/ft 3 ); #3 EVA, a density of 0.048±0.008 g/cm 3  (3±0.5 lb/ft 3 ); and #4 EVA, a density of 0.054±0.008 g/cm 3  (4±0.5 lb/ft 3 ). In addition to EVA foam, the wedge can also be constructed out of multicellular expanded resinous foam material (such as Styrofoam®), padded and unpadded wood and/or plastics, or other materials. The top surface could also be textured or covered in material with friction enhancing textures and finishes, which would make the surface less slippery. In general, the material should be selected to provide sufficient cushioning to a user&#39;s hands and wrists, to prevent stress thereon.  
         [0018]      FIG. 5  is a diagrammatic view of a wedge  10  of the invention and shows three slants of the upper surface  12   a,    12   b,  and  12   c,  which slant upwardly from the horizontal from the front  14  to the rear  16  by about 2.5° to 20°. The inventors have found that a slant of the upper surface  12   b  of about 10°±2.5° from the horizontal is a comfortable angle range for most users who are healthy and uninjured, as shown in solid line  12 . The slant can be increased to about 15°±2.5°, e.g., for orthopedic users who desire less stress on their hands and wrists and desire a more comfortable posture, as shown in large dashed line  30 . For users who wish a more strenuous posture (a “pro” embodiment”), the slant can be decreased to about 5°±2.5°, from the horizontal, as shown in small dashed line  32 .  
         [0019]     Table 1 list some exemplary push up wedge dimensions for a “normal” 10° slant of the top surface  12 .  
                                                                           TABLE 1                           Wedge Dimensions       Normal 10° Slope       Units = mm                Length/   Width/   Size   Rear   Front   Radius       Size   Base   Base   Length   Height   Height   Trim fit                    X-Small   100   66   74   29   10   50       Small   150   100   110   38   10   75       Medium   200   135   147   48   10   100       Large   250   167   184   57   10   125       X-Large   300   200   220   66   10   150                 Note:            The orthopedic model with 15° Slope has same dimensions except the rear height XS = 39; S = 52; M = 67; L = 80; XL = 94.            The Pro model with 5° Slope has same dimensions except the rear height XS = 20; S = 24; M = 29; L = 34; XL = 38.             
 
         [0020]      FIGS. 6 and 7  are a top and isometric view of another embodiment of the push up wedge  40  that has a curved front walls  42  and curved rear wall  44 , side walls  46  a flat top surface  48 . The top surface  48  can be contoured instead of flat if desired. The push up wedge  40  has a bottom surface  49  for placement on a floor. In actuality, the pushup wedges can be used with either the top surface or bottom surface facing up for contact with a user&#39;s palms.  
         [0021]      FIG. 8  is isometric view of yet another embodiment of the push up wedge  50  that is similar to the push up wedge of  FIGS. 6 and 7 , and has a curved front walls  52  and curved rear wall  54 , side walls  56  a top surface  58 . The top surface  58  can be contoured instead of flat if desired. A retention strap  60  is provided on the pushup wedge which makes the device very easy to retain on a user&#39;s hands. This feature is very convenient for certain exercises, for example, such as military style  8  count push ups where a user starts from a standing position, touches the floor in front of his/her hands, hops his/her feet back for a straight leg posture with his/her back straight in a pushup position, dips with a straight back, dips with a straight back again, hops his/her feet back closer to his/her hands touching the floor, and then stands up. The retention straps  60  will help prevent the user from dropping the pushup wedges at an inappropriate time. Besides a strap, other shapes, such as cords, integral loops or handholds, etc. formed from the resilient material are also useable.  
         [0022]      FIG. 9  is a rear isometric view of a further exemplary push up wedge  70  of the invention with a convexly cupped top surface  72 .  
         [0023]      FIG. 10  is a front view and  FIG. 11  is a side view of the exemplary pushup wedge of  FIG. 9 . The convexly cupped top surface  72  shape will provide a smooth and comfortable surface upon which a user will rest his/her palms during pushups. The front of the pushup wedge can also be curved if desired.  
         [0024]     In general, the pushup wedges of the invention will provide cushion for the user&#39;s palms and help protect the wrists from undue stress and strain.  
         [0025]     Having thus described exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the above disclosures are exemplary only and that various other alternatives, adaptations and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention. The presently disclosed embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.