Abstract:
An inclinable exercise device includes a support; an adjustable incline having an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion operably supported by the support to allow adjustment in an angle of the adjustable incline; a user support platform movably attached to the adjustable incline for movement of the user support platform along the adjustable incline during at least one of jumping and squat exercises; a foot support stand secured to the adjustable incline in the lower portion, the foot support engaged by one&#39;s feet during at least one of jumping and squat exercises; one or more resistance mechanisms resisting upward movement of the user support platform along the adjustable incline during at least one of jumping and squat exercises.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/066,721 filed on Oct. 21, 2014, which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to jump and/or squat exercise devices. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    An aspect of the invention involves an inclinable exercise device for use during at least one of jumping and squat exercises. The inclinable exercise device includes a support; an adjustable incline having an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion operably supported by the support to allow adjustment in an angle of the adjustable incline; a user support platform movably attached to the adjustable incline for movement of the user support platform along the adjustable incline during at least one of jumping and squat exercises; a foot support stand secured to the adjustable incline in the lower portion, the foot support engaged by one&#39;s feet during at least one of jumping and squat exercises; one or more resistance mechanisms resisting upward movement of the user support platform along the adjustable incline during at least one of jumping and squat exercises. 
         [0004]    One or more implementations of the aspect of the invention described immediately above includes one or more of the following: the one or more resistance mechanisms include a variable resistance mechanism to allow adjustment in resistance in the variable resistance mechanism; the variable resistance mechanism includes more than one elastic member selectively coupleable between the user support platform and the adjustable incline to allow adjustment in resistance in the variable resistance mechanism; the one or more resistance mechanisms include a braking resistance mechanism to decelerate upward motion of the user support platform along the adjustable incline; the braking resistance mechanism is a gas strut brake; the adjustable incline includes a downward travel limiting mechanism that limits the maximum downward distance that the user support platform can travel; the downward travel limiting mechanism is an adjustable knee flexion limiter and the adjustable incline includes more than one hole that the knee flexion limiter is receivable within to adjust the maximum downward distance that the user support platform can travel; the foot support stand includes an engagement surface that is continuously curved, keeping one&#39;s feet engaged therewith substantially perpendicular to one&#39;s lower legs during use; a plurality of rollers that the user support platform rolls along the adjustable incline on, the rollers each including a nylon rim with a plurality of spokes surrounded by a polyurethane tire that locks around the spokes; the support includes a base with a suspension wheel assembly having opposing suspension wheels and respective spring assemblies urging the suspension wheels downwardly relative to the base; the support includes a cross bar coupling the opposing suspension wheels together so as to translate force on one of the suspension wheels to the opposing suspension wheel so that the suspension wheels go up and down in unison; the spring assemblies include spring coefficients that cause the opposing suspension wheels to retract up into the base strut when one is on the exercise device so that the exercise device and deploy downward when one is not on the exercise device. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of an embodiment of a jumping exercise device; 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the jumping exercise device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a front elevation view of the jumping exercise device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a right side elevation view of the jumping exercise device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a left side elevation view of the jumping exercise device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a rear elevation view of the jumping exercise device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is a bottom plan view of the jumping exercise device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  is a top plan view of an embodiment of a rail assembly of the jumping exercise device of  FIG. 1  and shows an embodiment of a gas strut brake and an embodiment of a glide board knee flexion limiter; 
           [0013]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of  FIG. 8  of the rail assembly, and shows the gas strut brake and the glide board knee flexion limiter; 
           [0014]      FIG. 10  is a bottom plan view of an embodiment of a glide board of the jumping exercise device of  FIG. 1  and shows a jumping variable resistance assembly for the glide board; 
           [0015]      FIGS. 11A, 11B, and 11C  are front elevational, cross sectional, and side elevational views of an embodiment of a roller for the glide board; 
           [0016]      FIGS. 12A, 12B, and 12C  are front elevational, cross sectional, and side elevational views of an embodiment of a rim of the roller of  FIGS. 11A-11C ; 
           [0017]      FIGS. 13A, 13B, and 13C  are front elevational, cross sectional, and side elevational views of an embodiment of a tire of the roller of  FIGS. 11A-11C ; 
           [0018]      FIGS. 14A, 14B, and 14C  are side elevational view, front elevational and rear elevational views of a jumping stand and bungee rack of the jumping exercise device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 14D  is an enlarged side elevational view taken along section G of  FIG. 14A  of a support frame connection assembly of the jumping exercise device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 14E  is an enlarged side rear elevational view taken along section H of  FIG. 14E  of the bungee rack of the jumping variable resistance assembly; 
           [0021]      FIG. 15A  is a rear elevational view of an embodiment of a suspension wheel assembly of the jumping exercise device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 15B  is a cross-sectional view taken along line I-I of the suspension wheel assembly of  FIG. 15A ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 15C  is a top plan view of the suspension wheel assembly of  FIG. 15A ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 16A  is a rear elevational view of opposing suspension wheels and cross bar of the suspension wheel assembly of  FIGS. 15A-15C ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 16B  is a cross-sectional view taken along line J-J of the opposing suspension wheels and cross bar of  FIG. 16A ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 16C  is a top plan view of the opposing suspension wheels and cross bar of  FIG. 16A . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0027]    With reference initially to  FIGS. 1-7 , an embodiment of a jumping exercise device  105  will be described. Although the device  105  will be described in connection with jumping and exercise, in alternative embodiments, the device  105  may be used in conjunction with squat exercises or other exercises, and/or may be used for physical therapy or other purposes. 
         [0028]    The jumping exercise device  105  comprises a sliding user support platform or glide board  155  slidably mounted on adjustable incline or inclined rails  156  which are secured to a cross bar  158  at their lower ends of a lower portion of the adjustable incline  156  and are supported in an inclined orientation at a selected inclination angle by an adjustable support assembly or support  55  at an upper portion of the adjustable incline. 
         [0029]    The adjustable support assembly  55  will be described in more detail. The inclination angle is adjusted so that the rails  156  extend at a desired inclination angle to provide a desired resistance. Adjustable support assembly  55  supports the rails  156  at a selected inclination angle. Assembly  55  comprises a base or base strut  56 , a pair of struts  58  extending at an angle from base strut  56  and pivotally secured to the respective rails  156  at their upper ends via pivots  60 , and a telescopically adjustable strut assembly  62  extending between cross bar  63  which extends between lower portions of struts  58  and a cross bar  64  at its upper end which is pivotally connected to the rails  156  at their upper ends via pivots  65 . A spring loaded locking pin or pawl  157  actuated by handle or lever  66  extends through aligned openings  159  in telescoping portions  62 A and  62 B of arm  62  to control the inclination angle. A user can simply actuate handle  66  to release the locking pin  157  from the telescoping portions of the arm, and then adjust the length of arm  62  up or down using the same handle before releasing it to lock the arm at the adjusted length when the desired inclination angle is reached. 
         [0030]    With reference additionally to  FIGS. 15A-16C , the base strut  56  includes a suspension wheel assembly  170  including opposing suspension wheels  172 ,  174  coupled by a cross bar  176 . The suspension wheels  172 ,  174  are urged downwardly relative to the base strut  56  by respective spring assemblies  176 ,  178 . The cross bar  176  translates forces on one of the suspension wheels  172 ,  174  to the other suspension wheel  172 ,  174  so that the wheels go up and down in unison. The respective spring assemblies  176 ,  178  include spring coefficients that cause the wheels  172 ,  174  to retract up into the base strut  56  when a user is on the exercise device  105  so that the exercise device does not accidentally move during use, but deploy downward when the user is not on the exercise device  105  and the exercise device  105  is tilted at an angle so that the exercise device  105  can be easily rolled to a new location. The spring assemblies are designed to not fully lift the base  56  when the user gets off so that motion will not be noticed by the user. However the wheels lift 90% of the load of the base  56  off the floor to allow easy motion while changing the incline linkage  55 . When the wheels  172 ,  174  are deployed, a user can slide or roll the exercise device  105  across a room by lifting up on the opposite side of the exercise device  105  and pulling or pushing the exercise device  105  to cause the exercise device  105  to roll around the room. 
         [0031]    With reference additionally to  FIGS. 14A-14E , a foot support stand or squat stand  162  is secured to the rails  156  adjacent their lower ends via a support frame connection assembly  180 . The squat stand  162  has a support frame  164  which curves upwards away from rails  156  for coupling curved support pad or plate  165  (for engagement by the user&#39;s feet when performing jumping/squat exercises) to the rails  156 . The cross bar  158  is coupled to the support frame  164  via brackets  182 . Laterally traversing the support frame connection assembly  180  is a lower bungee rack  184  including a plurality of U-shaped bungee cord receiving slots for securing one or more bungee cords  186  ( FIG. 10 ) thereto for varying the resistance of the glide board  155  during movement of the glide board  155 . Thus, the one or more bungee cords  186  form a variable resistance mechanism during movement of the glide board  155 . 
         [0032]    As shown in  FIG. 10 , along an underside of the glide board  155 , a plurality of bungee cords and/or hoses  186  are disposed. In alternative embodiments, other types of elastic devices may be used other than bungee cords. The invention is not restricted to any type of elastic device or the illustrated architectures or configurations shown and/or described herein. A first glide board bungee rack  187  includes a plurality of D-ring anchors that receive hooks on first distal ends of the bungee cords  186 . The D-ring anchors make it easy for a gym operator to remove and/or replace the bungee cords  186  without a special tool. At opposite second distal ends of the bungee cords and/or hoses  186 , pull knobs/flanges  188  are disposed. To vary the jumping resistance of the glide board  155 , a user may pull downward on one or more of the pull knobs  188  and secure them via the flanges to the lower bungee rack  184 . The greater the number of bungee cords  186  coupled to the lower bungee rack  184 , the greater the jumping resistance and vice versa. Thus, the bungee cords  186  (along with the racks) form a jumping variable resistance assembly. The bungee cords  186  enable one to progressively increase resistance to challenge even the most advanced athletes with a small floor space. 
         [0033]    With reference to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , a gas strut brake  190  is disposed along the underside and adjacent one side of the glide board  155 . A rubber bumper  192  attached to the gas strut  190  impacts metal bracket  191 , and together, provide a resistance mechanism to decelerate the jump up and disengages by dampening within the strut on return down with the glide board  155 . This softens the impact on the knees and all other joints of the user from the landing due to reduced height of the jump (less time to accelerate down) on return of each jump on the curved support plate  165  by the user. The gas strut brake  190  does not brake at shorter distances, preventing braking, for example, when performing squats. The gas strut brake  190  is designed to only engage when tall athletes are airborne An adjustable glide board knee flexion limiter  194  forms a downward travel limiting mechanism that limits the maximum downward distance that the glide board  155  can travel. The location of the glide board knee flexion limiter  194  may be varied along the rail  156  to adjust the maximum downward distance that the glide board  155  can travel. The adjustable glide board knee flexion limiter  194  includes a spring-loaded knob that unscrews from and screws into a variety of differently spaced holes. 
         [0034]    With reference to  FIGS. 11A-13C , an embodiment of a roller  200 , which is one of a plurality of rollers  200  that the glide board  155  rolls along the guide rails  156  on, will be described. The roller  200  includes a nylon rim  202  with a plurality of spokes  204  surrounded by a polyurethane tire  206 . The polyurethane tire  206  is cast and locks around the spokes  204  in the nylon rim  202 . Polyurethane, which is an excellent outer material for the rollers  200 , will not bond to nylon. In the past, polyurethane surrounded costly aluminum rims. The spokes  204  inside of flange  207  of the nylon rim  202  allow the polyurethane tire  206  to be cast around the spokes  204  so that polyurethane material can be secured to the inexpensive nylon rim  202 . 
         [0035]    With reference to  FIG. 5 , the glide board  155  includes a lower flat cushion section  210  and an upper angled upper cushion section  212  that is angled so that a user&#39;s head lying on the upper angled upper cushion section  212  faces towards the curved foot plate  165 . 
         [0036]    Along opposite sides of the glide board  155  are user handles  220 . 
         [0037]    The jumping exercise device  105  will now be described in use. With the rails  156  at an incline, a user lies with one&#39;s back on the glide board  155  with one&#39;s head resting on the upper angled upper cushion section  212  so that a user faces towards the curved foot plate  165  (shoulders are at the location where the upper surfaces of the lower flat cushion section  210  and the upper angled upper cushion section  212  intersect and the user&#39;s rear is just above the bottom of the lower flat cushion section  210 ). To vary the jumping resistance of the glide board  155 , a user may vary the angle of the jumping exercise device  105  with the adjustable support assembly  55  and/or via the bungee cord(s)  186  (preferably the jumping resistance is varied by only varying the angle of the jumping exercise device  105 ). To vary the jumping resistance of the glide board  155 , a user may pull downward on one or more of the pull knobs  188  and secure them to the lower bungee rack  184 . The greater the number of bungee cords  186  coupled to the lower bungee rack  184 , the greater the jumping resistance and vice versa. As the user and the glide board  155  travel upwards upon jumping, the gas strut brake  190  causes the glide board  155  to decelerate the glide board  155 , reducing the distance traveled toward the end of the rails and enabling the length of the guide rails  156 , and, hence, the jumping exercise device  105 , to be smaller/shorter. The deceleration also reduces the height so landing acceleration is reduced, which unique to this machine, softens the impact on the lower body joints of the user from the landing on return of the jump on the curved support plate  165  by the user. The adjustable glide board knee flexion limiter  194  also limits the maximum downward distance that the glide board  155  can travel. The continuous or perfect curved nature of an upper/engagement surface of the support plate  165  on the inclined jumping exercise device  105  keeps the user&#39;s feet thereon substantially perpendicular to the user&#39;s lower legs where strength is greatest, for confidence, for comfort, and safety from slipping. 
         [0038]    A user may also perform squat exercises or other exercises/therapies with the exercise device  105  such as, but not limited to, a standard squat movement at an incline with the user&#39;s back on the moving glide board  155 . The squat exercise starts with the glide board  155  in a raised position and the user&#39;s feet engaging the foot plate  165 . The user then lowers the glide board  155  until their knees and hips are bent at around ninety degrees. A more difficult exercise would be a bridge squat where the user starts with their lower body raised from the glide board in a “bridge” position. Another exercise which can be performed on exercise device  105  is a plyometric squat exercise, performed by jumping off the foot plate  165  at the base of the unit while pushing the glide board  155  upwards, so that the user&#39;s feet leave the foot plate  165 . Another exercise which can be performed on exercise device  105  are sprinters, where the user faces the glide board  155 . 
         [0039]    Additional variations involve using only one foot as well as positioning the feet in various locations and orientations on the foot plate  165 . 
         [0040]    The above figures may depict exemplary configurations for the invention, which is done to aid in understanding the features and functionality that can be included in the invention. The invention is not restricted to the illustrated architectures or configurations, but can be implemented using a variety of alternative architectures and configurations. Additionally, although the invention is described above in terms of various exemplary embodiments and implementations, it should be understood that the various features and functionality described in one or more of the individual embodiments with which they are described, but instead can be applied, alone or in some combination, to one or more of the other embodiments of the invention, whether or not such embodiments are described and whether or not such features are presented as being a part of a described embodiment. Thus the breadth and scope of the present invention, especially in any following claims, should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments. 
         [0041]    Terms and phrases used in this document, and variations thereof, unless otherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open ended as opposed to limiting. As examples of the foregoing: the term “including” should be read as mean “including, without limitation” or the like; the term “example” is used to provide exemplary instances of the item in discussion, not an exhaustive or limiting list thereof; and adjectives such as “conventional,” “traditional,” “standard,” “known” and terms of similar meaning should not be construed as limiting the item described to a given time period or to an item available as of a given time, but instead should be read to encompass conventional, traditional, normal, or standard technologies that may be available or known now or at any time in the future. Likewise, a group of items linked with the conjunction “and” should not be read as requiring that each and every one of those items be present in the grouping, but rather should be read as “and/or” unless expressly stated otherwise. Similarly, a group of items linked with the conjunction “or” should not be read as requiring mutual exclusivity among that group, but rather should also be read as “and/or” unless expressly stated otherwise. Furthermore, although item, elements or components of the disclosure may be described or claimed in the singular, the plural is contemplated to be within the scope thereof unless limitation to the singular is explicitly stated. The presence of broadening words and phrases such as “one or more,” “at least,” “but not limited to” or other like phrases in some instances shall not be read to mean that the narrower case is intended or required in instances where such broadening phrases may be absent.